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Tangled    Flags 


A  NOVEL 


BY 


ARCHIBALD  CLAVERING  GUNTER 

Author  of 

"Mr.    Barnes  of  New  York,"     "The  King's  Stockbroker,' 
etc.,  etc. 


NEW    YORK 

THE  HOME  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


Copyright,  1900 
By  A.  C.  GUNTER 

All  rights  reserved 


TANGLED  FLAGS 


I.  The  Japanese  Captain      ....  5 

II.  "When  a  Woman  Weeps,  She  Loves!"  18 

III.  The  Daimio's  Blessing     ....  34 

IV.  A  Night  in  Hong  Kong    ....  44 


BOOK  II 
THE  ORIENTAL  ADVENTURER 


CHAPTER  PACK 

V.  A  Crafty  Wooer 65 

VI.  The  Yellow  Placard         ....  79 

VII.  "Blundered  Through"             .         .         .  89 

VIII.  His  Little  Missionary  Girl        .         .         .108 

IX.  "  I  Have  Met  His  Excellency  Before  "     .  126 

X.  Boom-De-Rah's  Shinto  Advice          .         .  139 

XI.  The  Dinner  at  the  Peak  Hotel          .         .  149 

XII.  Killing  Three  Birds  with  One  Stone         .  159 


2061S<io 


CONTENTS 


XIII.  The  White  Pagoda        .         .         .         .178 

XIV.  The  Coming  of  the  Mandarin         .         .189 
XV.  The  Feast  of  Belshazzar         .         .          .200 

XVI.  The  Woman  at  the  Japanese  Outpost    .      218 

XVII.  "Gol  Darn  It,  Plugged  with  My  Own 

Bullet!" 232 

XVIII.  By  Law  of  War 247 

XIX.  Tangled  Flags 264 


TANGLED  FLAGS. 


BOOK  I. 

THE    DAUGHTER  OF    THE    AMERICAN  ARMS 

MANUFACTURER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  JAPANESE  CAPTAIN. 

"  Delighted,  Captain  Katsuma,  that  your  dispatch 
states  those  rapid-fire  guns  have  passed  the  test  at 
Tokio." 

"  Yes,  respected  gentleman,  our  war-office  reports 
them  extremely  satisfactory."  The  soft  voice  of  the 
Japanese  seems  to  float  in  the  torrid  air,  though  his 
words  are  uttered  with  matematical  precision. 

"  I  knew  they  would,  if  first-class  American  steel 
and  the  most  skilled  of  Yankee  workmanship  has  any- 
thing to  do  with  the  manufacture  of  a  weapon,"  goes 
on  Mr.  Boardman,  briskly  and  cheerily.  "  Though  by 
this  time  I  should  think  you  Japs  had  discovered  that 
you  could  always  rely  upon  the  Boardman  &  Colburn 


6  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

Arms  Manufacturing  Company."  To  this  he  adds: 
"  By  Yankee  Doodle,  your  government  was  a  long  time 
making  the  final  trials.  Now  I  suppose  I'll  soon  get 
my  money."  The  American's  tone  is  eager  in  business 
directness. 

"  Yes,  I  think  the  drafts  will  probably  come  by  the 
next  mail  steamer  from  Tokio,  my  esteemed  Mr. 
Boardman,"  assents  the  young  Japanese  officer. 

A  very  sweet  feminine  American  voice  floating  to 
him  in  silvery  soprano  from  the  next  room  of  the  Peak 
Hotel,  Hong  Kong,  tells  Captain  Osuri  Katsuma  the 
reason  he  has  not  hurried  particularly  by  dispatch  or 
letter  the  tests  of  the  firearms  delivered  to  his  govern- 
ment by  the  Yankee  manufacturer. 

As  his  heart  beats  to  the  sound,  it  shows  him  why  he 
has  been  content  to  linger  over  a  business  that  per- 
haps would  have  been  brought  to  a  quicker  issue  had 
not  the  bright  eyes,  the  enchanting  figure,  and  that 
extraordinary,  fascinating,  easy,  yet  keep-your-dis- 
tance  familiarity  peculiarity  to  many  American  girls, 
emphasized  as  well  as  idealized  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Eira  Leanore  Boardman,  the  daughter  of  the  great 
American  arms  manufacturer,  made  Kong  Kong,  even 
now  entered  on  its  warm  season,  very  pleasant  to  Cap- 
tain Osuri  Katsuma. 

The  sweet  voice  has  become  music  to  his  ears.  The 
delicate  beauty  has  become  the  rapture  of  his  eyes. 
The  dainty,  personal  charm  of  Eira  Boardman  has 
placed  in  his  soul  a  reverent  passion  unusual  in  the 
land  of  Dai-Nippon,  where  women  are  regared  after 
the  Eastern,  not  the  Western,  fashion. 

Perchance,  this  has  been  made  easy  by  an  experience 
of  four  years  at  West  Point,  where,  as  the  guest  of 
the  American  Government,  this  young  Japanese  noble 
had  marched  as  a  classman  of  the  great  military  acad- 
emy under  the  stars  and  stripes.  Since  then,  travel  in 
many  lands  has  added  the  experience  of  a  man  of  the 
world  to  his  martial  education,  and  several  visits  to 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  7 

the  United  States,  on  military  business  as  representa- 
tive of  his  government  in  its  various  contracts  for  arms 
and  munitions  of  war,  have  given  him  that  respect  for 
woman  which  is  more  general  in  America  than  per- 
haps any  other  country  of  the  earth. 

A  few  light  words  spoken  in  a  higher  tone  from  the 
young  lady's  apartment  make  his  rise.  He  says :  "  I 
know,  everything  will  be  satisfactory  in  your  transac- 
tions with  my  government,  Mr.  Boardman.  But  I'll 
not  detain  you,  as  I  believe  you  expect  visitors  on  other 
business." 

"  Yes,  Li  Wong  Chieun." 

"  Ah,  the  mandarin  of  the  second  class,  the  wearer 
of  the  yellow  girdle.  Will  the  commissioner  of  the 
Chinese  Government  wear  his  yellow  jacket  to  im- 
press you  during  his  negotiations  and  astound  the 
young  ladies  ?  "  laughs  the  young  captain,  as  he  moves 
nearer  to  the  door. 

After  a  moment  of  hesitation,  as  if  something  was 
upon  his  mind  that  he  deems  it  advisable  to  say,  yet 
fears  may  be  unpleasant,  he  returns  and  remarks : 
"  Under  favor,  respected  Mr.  Boardman,  I  think  your 
great  manufacturing  company  makes  a  mistake  in  sell- 
ing modern  arms  to  the  Chinese.  You  never  know 
against  whom  a  half-civilized  nation  may  direct  its 
weapons." 

"Do  I,  my  Eastern  philosopher?"  jeers  the  other, 
his  voice  in  merriment  assuming  a  slight  nasal  New 
England  twang.  "  This  draft  from  Li  Hung  Chang 
for  five  hundred  thousand  taels  on  the  Hong  Kong 
and  Shanghai  Bank,  and  accepted  by  their  Johnny 
Bull  cashier,  doesn't  look  much  like  it."  Boardman 
merrily  flaunts  a  bill  of  exchange  in  his  adviser's  face, 
as  he  continues :  "  Besides,  the  Chinese  central  gov- 
ernment at  Peking  owes  my  firm  over  a  million  taels, 
which  I  will  get  as  soon  as  I  have  concluded  negotia- 
tions with  Li  Wonq:  Chieun." 

"  Still,  I  repeat  that  some  day  you  may  regret  hay- 


8  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

ing  sold  arms  to  a  barbarous  people,"  rejoins  the  Jap- 
anese, almost  sadly. 

"  Barbarous  people !  How  you  Orientals  always 
sneer  at  one  another,"  chuckles  the  American.  "  Bar- 
barous people!  Captain  Katsuma,  how  long  ago  was 
it  since  Japan,  your  country,  to  whom  through  you,  I 
am  selling  munitions  of  war,  ceased  to  be  barbarous?  " 

"  About  twenty-eight  years !  "  replies  the  other,  his 
eyes  lighting  up,  his  face  becoming  fervid.  "  In  1872, 
after  the  revolution,  when  the  Mikado  did  away  with 
the  feudalism  of  many  centuries." 

With  this  he  abstractedly  gazes  upon  a  very  pretty 
scene.  Below  are  the  white  villas,  nestled  in  green,  of 
its  English  merchant  princes,  gradually  running  down 
to  the  crowded  thoroughfares  of  the  British  metrop- 
olis of  Southeastern  China,  in  the  blue  water  of  whose 
roads  float  detachments  of  the  navies  of  the  world, 
merchant  and  militant.  Among  them  quite  conspicu- 
ously gleam  the  stars  and  stripes  upon  some  trans- 
ports en  route  for  the  Philippines  and  several  of  the 
big  war  vessels,  whose  prowess  now  makes  Americans 
no  longer  ashamed  of  their  country's  navy.  The  signal 
flags  on  the  Peak  flagstaff  indicate  that  one  of  the 
Indo-China  boats  will  soon  be  in  from  Shanghai  and 
Nagasaki. 

Though  the  afternoon  is  advanced,  the  day  is  quite 
warm;  it  is  the  month  of  April,  and  the  cool  season 
has  ended.  The  southwest  monsoon  is  rustling  the 
leaves  of  the  trees  clustered  about  the  houses  of  Kau- 
lung,  likewise  giving  the  sampans  more  vivacious 
motion  as  these  Chinese  craft  dash  about  the  shipping 
or  make  the  crossing  from  the  metropolis  to  the  oposite 
side  of  the  strait. 

During  this,  the  American,  who  is  a  squarely  built 
man  of  about  fifty,  with  sharp,  Yankee  business  fea- 
tures, made  effective  by  square  jaws  and  commercially 
acute  eyes,  is  arranging  on  the  table  before  him  a 
number  of  business  memoranda,  apparently  preparing 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  9 

for  the  visit  of  the  Chinese  potentate.  He  is  Mr. 
Joel  Luther  Boardman,  of  the  great  "  Boardman  and 
Colburn  Arms  Manufacturing  Company,"  of  Meri- 
den,  Connecticut.  Though  he  is  a  man  of  exceeding 
wealth,  he  is  combining  business  with  pleasure  by  a 
visit  to  the  East, 

The  other  is  Captain  Osuri  Katsuma,  of  the  First 
Tokio  Regiment  of  the  Japanese  Army,  who  sits  a 
model  of  Eastern  military  grace,  to  which  is  allied  that 
peculiar  martial  set-up  and  bearing  that  always  stamps 
a  West  Point  man.  His  upper  lip  bears  a  jetty  mus- 
tache, drooping  in  cavalier  luxuriance.  With  this  ex- 
ception, his  mobile  features  are  shaved  with  military 
precision.  Notwithstanding  Hong  Kong  heat,  he  is 
clothed  in  the  afternoon  costume  of  London,  Paris 
and  New  York,  as  if  his  visit  were  one  of  punctilio.  A 
Prince  Albert  coat  fits  to  a  line  his  lithe  figure,  which 
but  slightly  above  the  medium  height  is  as  erect  and 
supple  as  a  yew-stave.  His  light  trousers,  creased  as 
accurately  as  those  of  any  dandy  of  the  Knickerbocker 
Club  over  limbs  whose  agile  strength  might  do  honor 
to  a  rough-riding  trooper,  descend  to  feet  of  exquisite 
proportion,  booted  perfectly  in  patent  leathers  and 
draped  by  immaculate  gaiters. 

A  peculiarly  heavy  gold  ring,  adorned  by  a  single 
stone  and  the  insignia  of  his  class  at  West  Point, 
flashes  from  one  of  his  sinewy  but  delicate  fingers.  His 
linen  is  snowy ;  his  jewelry  unobtrusive ;  his  cravat, 
the  very  latest  fad.  A  glossy  tile  from  Dunlap,  New 
York ;  a  pair  of  light  gloves,  and  accurate,  dude  cane, 
which  lie  on  a  seat  in  front  of  him,  indicate  that  the 
Japanese  officer  in  mufti  can  hold  his  own  as  regards 
costume  and  appointment  with  any  Western  exqusite. 

But  this  young  man's  bronzed  face,  unlike  that  of 
a  dawdler  of  fashion,  is  that  of  a  mathematician  domi- 
nated by  decision  and  lighted  by  the  blackest  of  spark- 
ling eyes,  which  destroy  an  Eastern  languor  of  the 
eyebrows,  giving  to  its  irregular  features  a  fervid  pas- 


10  TANGLED'  FLAGS. 

sion  and  potent  determination,  at  times  made  sad  by 
a  kind  of  Oriental  fatalism.  Women  said  there  was 
an  air  of  poetry  about  him ;  men  that  he  was  courtesy 
personified,  and  his  West  Point  comrades,  that  Osuri 
Katsuma  would  be  a  good  man  to  stand  beside  when 
battle  was  desperate,  reinforcements  far  away,  and 
death  very  close. 

Again  the  charming  accents  float  into  them  from  the 
next  room.  "  Quick,  Flora !  We  shall  miss  the  last 
tune  in  the  Botanical  Gardens.  I  hear  Captain  Kat- 
suma's  voice  in  papa's  parlor.  Let  us  astound  Japan 
by  American  female  promptness." 

At  the  words,  philosophy  leaves  the  face  of  the 
listener.  His  eyes  grow  bright  with  passion,  then 
softly  tender;  he  utters  a  slight  sigh,  as  he  languidly 
draws  on  his  gloves. 

A  moment  after,  the  entry  of  two  young  ladies,  of 
brightest  plumage,  in  the  lightest  of  Parisian  toilettes, 
adapted  to  semi-tropical  weather,  brings  him  to  his  feet. 
As  he  bows  before  the  delicate  laces  and  light  lawns 
of  Miss  Eira  Leanore  Boardman  and  her  cousin,  Mrs. 
Flora  Estrella  Elton,  he  remarks :  "  You  will  excuse 
me,  young  ladies,  but,  eliminate  that  grinning  Chinese 
servant  outside  and  those  punka  boys  in  the  hall,  and 
your  costumes  take  me  back  to  the  Casino  at  Narragan- 
sett  Pier." 

"  Why,  Captain  Katsuma,  as  quite  a  child,  I  visited 
Narragansett !  Have  you  ever  been  at  that  place  of 
delightful  flirtations?"  queries  Mrs.  Elton,  co- 
quettishly. 

"  Fortunately,  they  are  generally  not  serious  ones," 
remarks  the  Japanese,  dryly. 

Flora  Elton  is  a  dashing  widow,  who  being  twenty- 
six,  looks  twenty-two,  and  tries  to  conceal  her  four 
extra  undesirable  years  by  keeping  in  hiding,  under 
a  French  bonne  and  an  East  Indian  ayah,  her  off- 
spring in  the  form  of  a  polyglot-speaking  boy  of  seven, 
who  is  now  rebelling  in  three  diverse  tongues  against ' 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  IT 

the  pantalets  of  babyhood,  and  demanding,  with  young 
American  progressiveness,  knickerbockers,  in  several 
different  languages. 

"  I  bathed  at  Narragansett  half  a  season.  Sherry's 
pavilion  and  beach  are  as  familiar  to  me  as  the  shores 
of  Suzvo  Nada,  our  beautiful  Inland  Sea,"  continues 
Osuri.  "  The  surf  there  was  very  good,  though  it  was 
inconvenient  to  be  compelled  to  wear  an  infamous 
bathing  costume,  which  was  my  abomination.  In 
Japan  we  swim  like  the  fishes,  as  God  made  us." 

This  barbaric  assertion  is  greeted  by  a  little  snicker 
from  Mrs.  Elton,  but  Miss  Boardman,  who  has  been 
apparently  cajoling  her  papa  in  a  whisper  for  some 
favor,  leaves  her  parent,  steps  to  the  Japanese,  gives 
him  a  quick  glance  of  two  very  bright  eyes,  and  blushes 
slightly,  saying,  in  an  indignant  undertone,  apparently 
only  intended  for  his  ear:  "  Captain  Katsuma,  why  do 
you  always  try  to  make  me  think  you  a  savage?  " 

"  Because  it  is  safer  for  me,"  remarks  the  young 
man.  An  attempted  lightness  in  his  voice  is  contra- 
dicted by  his  burning  glance,  that  makes  the  two  blue 
eyes  gazing  into  his  black  orbs  droop. 

The  blushes  on  the  young  lady's  cheeks  become  more 
vivid ;  though  she  says,  half  laughingly :  "  Then,  why 
don't  you  tattoo  yourself  at  once !"  But,  from  this 
time  on,  all  this  day,  her  manner  seems  apologetic; 
there  is  a  curious  trouble  in  her  exquisite  eyes  as  she 
gazes  upon  the  young  man  who  seems  to  her,  with  his 
thoroughbred  manner,  his  drooping  mustache  and  his 
European  etiquette,  scarcely  more  of  another  race  than 
one  of  her  own  countrymen  would  after  a  summer  of 
sun  exposure,  boating  and  bathing. 

In  truth  Eira  Boardman's  conscience  is  beginning 
to  more  than  prick  her  in  this  matter  of  Osuri  Kat- 
suma. A  coquette  not  by  disposition,  but  by  educa- 
tion, she  has  permitted  herself  to  keep  a  secret ;  she 
has  allowed  herself  to  bring  passion  into  the  face  of 
this  young  Oriental  officer,  who  has  been  dangling 


12  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

beside  her  during  a  long  month  in  Hong  Kong  till  she 
knows  she  plays  upon  his  heart  strings  with  every 
glance  of  her  violet  eyes,  every  motion  of  her  dainty 
hand,  and  every  coquettish  remark  that  floats  from  be- 
tween her  cherry  lips,  that  shade  two  rows  of  pearls. 

Just  at  this  moment  she  has  little  time  for  remorse ; 
Mrs.  Elton  is  laughingly  remarking :  "  Ah,  then,  you 
would  like  Honolulu,  Captain  Katsuma.  That  is  now 
American,  but  tropic  and  barbaric !  " 

"  Quite  so.  It's  very  good  fun  to  ride  a  plank 
with  a  Kanaka  sea-nymph,  oh  a  moonlit  evening,  in 
the  reef-surf  of  Oahu,"  answers  the  young  man. 
"  But,  Miss  Boardman,  I  think  we  had  better  bid  your 
papa  good-bye  and  leave  him  to  his  business.  I  see 
the  sedan  of  the  Chinese  high  commissioner  coming 
up  the  hill." 

"  And  I  also  see  Mr.  Passmere,  strolling  with  Eng- 
lish strides  from  the  cable  tram,"  cries  Mrs.  Elton, 
eagerly,  her  eyes  growing  brighter. 

For  the  gentleman  known  to  Hong  Kong  society  at 
this  time  as  the  Honorable  Arthur  Cochrane  Pass- 
mere  has  a  languid,  insouciant,  boyishly  dictatorial 
manner,  which  seems  pleasing  to  Flora  from  very  con- 
trast to  the  adoration  and  devotion  that  has  been  show- 
ered upon  her  in  Continental  Europe,  where  she  has 
been  besieged  with  much  bowing  and  adulation,  not 
only  for  her  money  bags  but  for  her  beauty,  by  a 
Magyar  count,  two  or  three  Italian  marquises  and  a 
German  baron. 

Mrs.  Elton  has  led  the  existence  of  a  butterfly  widow 
for  several  years  in  Europe,  and  joined  her  uncle  and 
cousin  in  London  three  months  ago  for  this  Eastern 
trip.  She  continues,  effusively :  "  After  the  Botanical 
Gardens,  we  drive  to  the  Happy  Valley,  Mr.  Passmere 
suggests." 

"  Well,  don't  let  your  young  man  get  too  spooney 
on  you,  Flora,"  chuckles  her  astute  Yankee  uncle, 
Major  Tilford,  though  red  faced  would  be  much  safer. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  13 

In  my  judgment,  the  Honorable  Arthur  is  so  cute  a 
youth  he  ought  to  take  a  policeman  round  with  him 
when  he  sees  the  girls." 

"  Oh,  you're  always  talking  that  way,  Uncle  Board- 
man,"  giggles  the  widow. 

"  Hump !  Keep  your  eye  on  him.  When  the  Hon- 
orable Arthur  marries,  you  can  bet  there'll  be  but  one 
boss  in  the  house,  and  it  won't  be  his  wife." 
i  "  Pooh !  You're  always  teasing  me,"  murmurs 
Flora,  her  face  growing  red;  Mrs.  Elton's  late  hus- 
band having  spoilt  and  petted  her  till  she  had  become 
even  while  married  a  flirt. 

Here  Miss  Boardman  thinks  it  wise  to  interpose. 
She  cries  lightly :  "  Now,  papa,  that's  for  the  trunk 
from  Worth  and  this  is  for  the  trunk  from  Felix 
you've  ordered  to  meet  me  at  Peking."  The  "  this  " 
and  "  that "  are  two  very  dainty  kisses  she  gives  her 
father  for  Parisian  millinery  and  toilettes, 
t  "To — to  Peking?  Isanagi!  father  of  the  gods, 
you — you  go  to  Peking?"  ejaculates  the  Japanese 
officer,  his  face  growing  strangely  anxious. 

"  Certainly !  "  answers  Flora.  "  We  have  letters  to 
the  American  minister,  and " 

"  I've  personal  business  with  the  Chinese  central 
government.  Didn't  I  tell  you  about  that  million 
taels  ? "  adds  Joel.  "  I've  go  to  go  there  for  my 
money." 

Any  words  Captain  Osuri  might  return  are  obliter- 
ated by  the  entrance  of  Lum  Kee,  Boardman's  Chinese 
servant,  interpreter  and  liar. 

Chin-chinning  obsequiously,  Lum  Kee,  who  is  a 
sleepy  looking  Chinaman,  announces,  in  florid  Orien- 
tal style:  "  Li  Wong  Chieun,  mandarin  of  the  sec- 
ond class  and  high  lord  commissioner  of  the  Chinese 
War  Board,  beseeches  humble  audience  of  the  great 
Yankee  holder  of  lightnings  and  shooter  of  thunder- 
bolts." 
.  At  this  effusion  Katsuma  bursts  out  laughing. 


14  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  That's  an  infernal  lie,  Lumky,"  grins  the  Ameri- 
can, "  Now,  as  you  fear  my  boot,  what  did  Li  Wong 
Chieun  really  say  ?  " 

"  Well,  if  excellency  must  have  no  like  truth,"  re- 
marks the  Chinaman,  in  frightened  voice,  "  Li  Wong 
Chieun  say :  '  Tell  foreign  devil  I  gib  him  audience.' 
He  creep  at  my  feet." 

"  Then,  quick,  get  out,  and  bring  his  excellency  in !" 

The  cringing  agility  with  which  Lum  Kee  disappears 
makes  the  Japanese  look  grave.  As  the  ladies  leave  the 
room,  he  queries,  seriously :  "  You — you  haven't  been 
kicking  your  China  boy,  have  you,  Mr.  Boardman?  " 

"  Why,  yes,"  replies  the  American.  "  I  did  hoist 
Lumky  once  or  twice  on  my  toe  for  lying  to  me.  You 
see,  Captain  Katsuma,  I'm  getting  into  the  true  Eng- 
lish way  of  treating  these  damned  rapscallion  coolies. 
Lumky  shivers  when  I  speak  to  him ;  he  is  beginning 
to  respect  and  love  me." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  sneers  Osuri,  "  the  English  know 
exactly  how  to  make  the  Orientals  love  them."  Then 
he  asks,  rather  anxiously :  "  You  take  that  Chinaman 
with  you  to  Peking  ?  " 

"  You  bet !  He's  my — my  interpreter.  I  couldn't 
get  along  without  him.  He's  devoted  to  me,  body  and 
soul." 

"  Then,  don't  kick  him  again ;  Lum  Kee  might  love 
you  too  much." 

The  irregular  but  expressive  features  of  the  Japan- 
ese have  become  rather  gloomy.  As  he  leaves  the 
apartment  even  the  exquisite  graces  of  the  young  lady 
who  has  tripped  out  ahead  of  him  bring  no  smile  to 
his  face. 

He  notes  Eira  standing  at  the  hotel  door.  Mrs. 
Elton  and  she  have  just  been  joined  by  Mr.  Passmere. 
This  gentleman  is  to  be  the  escort  of  the  charming 
widow,  whose  graces  are  still  very  juvenile  and  whose 
daintily  developed  beauty  seems  apparently  extremely 
potent  with  the  young  man,  who,  in  light  nanquins, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  1$ 

white  pith  helmet  and  delicate  patent-leather  shoes, 
which  are  low-cut  to  display  silk  stockings,  seems  typ- 
ical of  the  Anglo-Oriental  dandy. 

Both  ladies  have  already  greeted  the  Chinese  official, 
Li  Wong  Chieun,  who  has  just  stepped  from  his 
sedan  chair  borne  by  four  sweating  coolies.  He  is  at- 
tended by  his  secretary  and  interpreter,  who  wears  the 
sign  of  the  Hanlin  degree  of  the  Literati.  Did 
not  etiquette  forbid  it,  in  the  presence  of  his  superior, 
he  would  wear  a  pair  of  yellow  horn-rimmed  spectacles. 
As  it  is,  his  two  extremely  placid  eyes  flicker  in  near- 
sightedness  as  he  stands  at  a  respectful  distance  behind 
his  chief,  the  high  commissioner  of  the  war  depart- 
ment, central  government,  Peking,  who  is  in  full  pan- 
oply of  state.  The  flowered  red  button  upon  his  skull- 
cap indicates  Li  Wong  Chieun  is  of  the  second  rank  of 
mandarins;  his  yellow  girdle,  that  he  is  of  imperial 
descent,  though  this  connection  may  have  been  even  in 
remote  centuries.  Peacock  feathers  denote  he  has  his 
sovereign's  trust,  and  the  sweeping  robes  of  state  give 
majesty,  if  not  grace,  to  the  old  Chinese  official. 

As  the  party  pause  before  Li  Wong  Chieun,  the  as- 
tute eyes  of  the  Eastern  diplomatist  seem  to  rest  upon 
Mr.  Passmere  in  a  way  that  makes  that  smooth  shaven, 
delicately  barbered  young  man  stand  uneasily  first  on 
one  patent-leather  shoe  and  then  on  the  other. 

To  the  ladies,  and  even  Katsuma's  astonishment,  the 
Honorable  Arthur  converses  with  the  high  commis- 
sioner in  fluent  mandarin  Chinese,  though  whether  they 
are  passing  more  than  the  ordinary  high-flowered  com- 
pliments of  Celestial  courtesy,  Katsuma  cannot  guess, 
for  their  voices  are  guardedly  low,  and  the  tongue  is 
not  easy  to  his  Japanese  ear,  though  he  has  some  knowl- 
edge of  it.  Besides,  the  two  stop  speaking  as  he  ap- 
proaches them. 

Then  Li  Wong  Chieun  waves  his  hand  and  Mr. 
Passmere  steps  uneasily  backward  as  the  great  Chinese 
official  turns  his  sleepy,  yet  acute,  almond  eyes  upon 


1 6  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

the  younger  of  the  two  ladies.  A  placid  smile  contorts 
his  lips,  that  are  full,  sensual  and  made  unduly  red  by 
the  betel  habit,  as  he  tries  to  chat  to  his  fair  vis-a-vis 
in  pidgin  English. 

Though  both  ladies  are  worthy  of  any  man's  atten- 
tion, Mrs.  Elton  being  a  vivacious  semi-brunette  of 
superbly  rounded  and  yet  extremely  graceful  form, 
the  Celestial  commissioner  seems  to  turn  his  almond 
optics  more  earnestly  upon  Miss  Boardman,  who  is 
of  slightly  greater  height,  and  more  sylph-like  figure, 
and  whose  brightly,  vivacious  face  is  made  exquisitely 
spiritual  by  eyes  blue  as  ether  and  floataway  tresses 
sometimes  brown,  sometimes  almost  golden. 

A  second  later,  probably  at  her  escort's  suggestion, 
for  the  Honorable  Arthur  now  seems  to  be  either  bored 
by  the  affair  or  anxious  to  get  away  from  Chieun's 
sleepy  eyes,  Flora  waves  her  hand  in  adieu  to  the  Mon- 
golian potentate. 

Accepting  Passmere's  escort,  she  walks  off  en  route 
for  the  tram-cars.  After  dawdling  away  half  an  hour 
in  the  Botanical  Gardens,  till  the  air  grows  cooler,  they 
will,  in  the  lower  town,  take  Mr.  Passmere's  car- 
riage, which  he  states  he  has  imported  for  Peking  use. 
In  this  they  will  drive  along  the  harbor  to  the  Happy 
Valley,  the  widow  chaperoning  her  more  youthful 
cousin. 

As  Flora  turns  away,  to  Miss  Boardman's  surprise 
and  apparently  the  confusion  of  his  Chinese  Excel- 
lency, Katsuma  addresses  him  in  a  rather  labored  man- 
ner in  the  language  of  Cathay. 

After  the  exchange  of  a  few  affable  sentences,  the 
older  official's  gesture  indicates  adieu. 

With  West  Point  gallantry,  the  Japanese  takes 
Eira's  parasol  and  raises  it.  The  young  lady,  gather- 
ing her  white  lawn,  lace-trimmed  skirts  about  her,  is 
preparing  to  trip  away  by  his  side.  Her  attitude  dis- 
plays the  exquisite  proportions  of  her  gracefully  devel- 
oped figure.  One  pretty  foot,  perfectly  booted  in  white, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  17 

is  advanced  before  her.  Her  bright  eyes  beam  like  the 
bluest  of  topazes.  She  favors  Chieun  with  a  bright, 
pleasant  glance  of  farewell. 

"  Goodie-bye !  Goodie-bye !  "  murmurs  the  Chinese 
official,  in  his  best  pigeon  English. 

Anxious  to  aid  her  father's  business  transactions, 
Miss  Boardman  turns  and  holds  out  to  the  Celestial 
potentate  a  little  hand.  To  her  astonishment,  perhaps 
dismay,  Chieun  gallantly  takes  this  and,  sinking  on 
one  knee,  presses  his  Oriental  lips  upon  it. 

With  a  bashful  flutter  Eira  withdraws  her  fingers 
from  the  flabby  clasp;  and  as  the  young  Japanese 
walks  off  beside  her,  says,  with  a  blushing  face :  "  Li 
Wong  Chieun  was  extremely  gallant,  wasn't  he?" 

"  Quite  so,"  answers  her  escort,  caustically. 

"  I — I  presume  he  learnt  that  salutation  from  the 
Germans,"  murmurs  the  girl. 

"  Perhaps,"  replies  the  young  man,  "  but  I  never 
saw  a  Chinese  official  kiss  a  lady's  hand  before.  Oscu- 
lation is  as  unknown  in  China  as  Japan.  He  glances 
over  his  shoulder,  and  clenches  his  fist;  for  Osuri 
notes  a  peculiar  flash  in  the  almond  eyes  of  the  man- 
darin, one  Eira  Boardman  cannot  read,  otherwise  her 
blushes  would  be  crimson. 

Li  Wong  Chieun  had  once  been  attached  to  the 
Chinese  Embassy  at  Tokio,  and  Captain  Katsuma  had 
heard  of  this  old  gentleman  at  dinner  parties,  when  the 
Geisha  girls  are  brought  in  to  sing  and  dance  after 
sake  and  tosso  have  made  the  blood  of  gentlemen  riot- 
ous and  given  to  them  thoughts  of  the  painted  beauties 
of  the  Yoshiwara.  He  knows  the  Oriental  meaning  of 
those  expanded  pupils,  that  glow,  serpent-like,  upon 
the  Western  maiden  from  between  yellow  gashes 
under  the  old  Chinese  official's  expanded  eyebrows. 
That  such  gaze  should  be  cast  upon  one  whose  delicate 
loveliness  he  has  idealized  as  that  of  a  goddess  of  re- 
finement and  purity  fires  the  Japanese  officer's  blood. 

Kis  West  Point  education  has  made  him  as  prone  to 


IS  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

resent  insult  to  womanhood  as  any  other  of  the  four 
hundred  gallant  youths  who  had  marched  beside  him  at 
the  American  military  academy ;  he,  with  difficulty, 
restrains  himself  from  stepping  back  to  the  mandarin 
of  the  red  button  and  giving  his  Eastern  highness  an 
old-fashioned,  Western  slugging. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  WHEN    A    WOMAN    WEEPS,    SHE    LOVES !  " 

But  modern  conservatism  overcomes  the  emotional 
outburst  of  youth. 

Pretty  lips  are  opening  to  Osuri ;  blue  eyes  are 
gazing  upon  him,  and  a  sweet  voice  is  saying  pathet- 
ically :  "  Captain  Katsuma,  you're  not  holding  my  par- 
asol over  my  head.  Oh,  mercy,  you're  dragging  its 
white  ribbons  in  the  dust !  Your  face  is  that  of  a  thun- 
der cloud,  when  I  had  hoped  that  the  pleasure  of  my 
company  might  have  made  you  at  least  gallant  enough 
to  smile  upon  me." 

Compliments  are  dangerous  to  Orientals ;  they 
sometimes  believe  women  mean  them.  The  flash 
leaves  the  eyes  of  Eira  Boardman's  escort.  The  dark 
orbs  of  the  Japanese  become  soft  and  tender.  After 
this  the  parasol  is  held  very  carefully  over  the  young 
lady's  head,  as  they  trip  down  the  hill. 

"  You — you  speak  Chinese  ?  "  asks  the  girl,  in 
rather  amazed  tone. 

"  Certainly,"  he  returns.  Most  of  our  script  is  in 
Chinese  characters.  One  who  has  mastered  Jap- 
anese doesn't  fear  any  tenguage  the  tongue  of  man  can 
enunciate.  Still,  I  only  know,  and  that  partially,  the 
mandarin  dialect — there  are  as  many  others  as  there 
are  languages  in  Europe. 

"  And  you  say    kissing    is    unknown  in  Japan  ? " 


TANCLED 

queries  Miss  Eira,  interestedly,  but  coquettishly ;  appa- 
rently she  is  becoming  interested  in  things  Oriental. 

"  Certainly !  "  answers  Katsuma,  impulsively.  "  I 
never  knew  what  a  kiss  was  until  an  American  girl" — 
he  pauses,  hesitates  and  grows  red — "until  an  Ameri- 
can girl  explained  the  custom  to  me  and  illustrated  it 
by  saluting  her  young  lady  chum,"  adds  the  Eastern 
captain,  stoutly. 

"  Ah,  I  perceive,"  says  his  inquisitor,  sarcastically. 
A  moment  later  she  continues,  roguishly:  "You  have 
a  very  bright  and  agile  mind,  Captain  Katsuma." 

Fortunately,  as  Eira  speaks,  they  join  Mrs.  Elton 
and  Passmere,  who  is  calling  out  to  them :  "  Hurry 
up,  or  you'll  miss  the  tram-car,  don't  yer  know.  Be- 
sides, you  forget,  Miss  Eira,  it's  etiquette  for  you  to 
walk  where  your  chaperon's  eyes  can  be  upon  you." 

"  Please  don't  brand  me  with  that  awful  title," 
laughs  the  young  widow.  "  Chaperonage  indicates  an 
aged  demureness  that  puts  a  woman  out  of  the  flirta- 
tion ring." 

"  General  flirtation  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  is 
beastly,  don't  yer  know,"  remarks  Mr.  Passmere,  sen- 
tentiously.  "  When  maid  or  widow  puts  her  eyes  upon 
a  fellah,  she  should  keep  them  there,  can't  yer  see."  He 
turns  a  rather  severe  glance  upon  the  coquettish  Flora, 
whose  piquant  face  under  his  gaze  assumes  such  a 
nervous  blush  that  his  grey  eyes  grow  triumphant.  For 
the  Honorable  Arthur  has  some  rather  curious  ideas  in 
his  bright  mind  about  Mrs.  Elton. 

"  Pooh,  -don't  give  us  a  lecture,  old  man !  "  jeers 
Osuri,  as  the  four  walk  along  together,  adding: 
"  Mrs.  Elton  meant  that  chaperonage  suggested  ad- 
vanced age.  No  woman  could  mention  that  forbidden 
topic  unless  she  felt  very  sure  of  her  youth."  His 
compliment  makes  the  widow's  face  extremely  benign 
to  Captain  Katsuma  of  the  First  Tokio,  as  the  quar- 
tette step  into  the  cable-car. 

On  the  democratic  tram,  as  they  run  down  the  hill, 


20  fANGLfit)  FLAGS. 

several  Chinamen  being  jabbering  in  close  proximity, 
Flora  laughs :  "  Where  did  you  pick  up  their  lingo, 
Mr.  Passmere?  It  must  be  an  awful  difficult  language 
for  a  European." 

"  Oh,  bless  my  soul,  it's  easy  enough,  don't  yer 
know,  if  you'll  only  take  it  up  young  enough,  can't  yer 
see.  I  can  chat  every  dialect  from  Cantonese  to  Man- 
darin, with  a  sprinkling  of  Hakka  and  a  touch  of 
Shanghai." 

"  You  must  have  come  to  China  in  babyhood,"  re- 
marks Osuri,  looking  up  from  a  semi-private  conver- 
sation with  the  beautiful  American  girl.  "  I  have 
noticed  several  Orientalisms  in  your  manner." 

"  Yes,"  interjects  Eira,  "  you  shook  hands  with 
yourself  when  you  left  the  Chinese  high  commissioner, 
Mr.  Passmere.  Can  you  use  chop-sticks?" 

"  Ah — oh — of  course ;  I  have  been  connected  with 
missions  and  legations  since  I  was  almost  a  child," 
returns  the  young  man ;  his  extremely  bright  eyes 
growing  shifty  and  uneasy.  "  Diplomacy  seems  to 
run  in  my  family,  don't  yer  know."  Then,  perhaps, 
anxious  to  stop  further  queries,  the  Honorable  Arthur 
flashes  out :  "  Like  to  hear  what  that  Chinese  mer- 
chant in  the  fore-end  of  the  car  is  jabbering  about?  " 
Next  he  ejaculates :  "  No,  by  chop-sticks,  I  don't  think 
I'll  tell  yer." 

"  Oh,  please  do !  "  cries  Mrs.  Elton,  curiosity  over- 
coming prudence. 

"  Oh,  well,  if  you  must  have  it,  he  is  talking  about 
buying  a  third  wife,  can't  yer  see?  Got  her  in  Canton 
cheap.  He  is  telling  how  he  gave  her  parents  two  pigs, 
six  hens  and " 

"  Then  don't  continue !  "  commands  Miss  Boardman, 
in  American  disgust  at  the  Eastern  degradation  of  her 
sex. 

Just  above  the  commercial  portion  of  the  town  they 
leave  the  tram  and  enter  the  Botanical  Gardens.  Here 
the  exquisite  trees  and  lovely  flowers  put  poetry  in  all 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  21 

their  souls,  even  the  unexcitable  Passmere  remarking: 
"  Deuce  take  me,  I  can't  tell  what  gets  into  me  when 
these  beastly  bushes  and  flowers  are  all  about  me. 
Somehow  or  other,  it  seems  to  make  the  ladies  very 
fetching,  don't  yer  know.  It  rather  makes  a  fellah 
sort  of  want  to  tell  'em  that  he  loves  'em,  can't  yer  see." 

At  this  Flora's  eyes  turn  romantically  upon  her  cava- 
lier, and  the  widow  seems  anxious  to  set  out  for  the 
Happy  Valley,  where,  notwithstanding  her  duties  of 
chaperonage,  she  has  determined  to  give  the  Honorable 
Arthur  Cochrane  Passmere,  tete-a-tete. 

Almost  immediately  an  incident  occurs  that  makes 
this  lady  very  eager  to  leave  the  gardens.  She  and 
her  escort  are  seated  a  little  distance  from  their  com- 
panions, their  voices  nearly  drowned  by  the  splash  of 
waters  in  the  near-by  fountain.  The  gentleman  is 
remarking :  "  By  Jove,  how  it  adds  to  the  charm  of  a 
widow  to  be  unencumbered  by  souvenirs  of  a  former 
matrimony. ' 

"  How  do  you  know  that?  "  flutters  Mrs.  Elton. 

"  Why,  you're  so  deuced  young,  don't  yer  know, 
you'd  have  to  be  carrying  the  little  darling  in  your 
arms,  can't  yer  see !  " 

"  Y-e-s — I — I  am  scarcely  twenty-two,"  murmurs 
the  widow,  looking  down  at  as  pretty  a  foot  as  there 
is  in  Hong  Kong.  Then  Flora  suddenly  grows  very 
pale.  Arthur  is  snarling:  "Just  listen  to  that  many- 
language  brat  in  the  next  walk." 

Mrs.  Elton  doesn't  have  to  listen  much,  for  to  her 
come  in  the  strident  screams  of  childhood :  "  Donnes 
inoi  die  bonbons,  ma  belle  Lisette.  Vite!  or,  I'll  tell 
mama  you  were  larking  with  a  red-coat.  Comprcn- 
nes,  du  Aeself  " 

At  this  juvenile  oration  in  most  savage  polyglot, 
the  widow  rises  with  a  pale,  frightened  face,  and 
falters :  "  Let's  start  at  once  for  the  Happy  Valley,  or 
it  will  be  growing  dark  before  we  get  back." 

As  they  leave  the  Gardens  she  is  dejectedly  cogi- 


22  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

tating :      "  Arthur    is    so    awfully  dictatorial.     Good 
Heavens,  if  I  ever  have  to  tell  him!" 

A  few  minutes  after,  in  Mr.  Passmere's  carriage, 
which  he  tells  them  will  make  Peking  open  its  eyes, 
they  are  driving  along  the  Praya.  This  great  business 
street  seems  unusually  brisk,  excited  and  bouyant;  the 
Sikh  policemen  striding  about  vivaciously ;  the  coolies 
clicking  as  they  move  their  immense  loads  with  a  vig- 
orous activity  that  denotes  an  expected  festival.  The 
whole  place  seems  gay  with  flags,  and  though  commer- 
cial, martial. 

"  Why  does  every  one  appear  so  excitedly  happy?  " 
asks  Mrs.  Elton.  "  The  English  are  still  righting  the 
Boers,  aren't  they?" 

"  Certainly !  "  replies  Passmere.  "  But  instead  of 
being  checked,  we  are  now  winning,  don't  yer  see." 

"  That's  the  reason  of  the  difference  in  Johnny  Bull's 
appearance,"  laughs  Osuri.  A  tactician  having  now 
command  of  the  British  Army  in  South  Africa,  Tom- 
my Atkins  is  no  longer  going  down  to  useless  death  in 
frontal  attacks  against  impregnable  intrenchments 
manned  by  deadly  marksmen.  Roberts  has  begun  his 
march  on  Pretoria.  The  Boers  are  already  being 
flanked  in  Natal." 

As  he  speaks  they  pass  the  monument  erected  to  the 
dead  American  tars  who,  with  English  blue-jackets, 
fought  the  Chinese  pirates  at  Kuhlan,  in  1855,  before 
which  it  is  the  rule  that  every  martial  procession 
pauses,  while  its  bands  play  "  The  Star-Spangled  Ban- 
ner "  and  "  God  Save  the  Queen,"  and  then  a  dirge  to 
the  gallant  Anglo-Saxons  of  both  nations  who  died 
battling  for  Western  civilization  against  Eastern 
barbarism. 

Soon  after  their  carriage  stops  near  the  English 
cemetery.  Stepping  from  their  vehicle,  after  some  few 
minutes  of  listless  wandering,  Mrs.  Elton,  taking  adroit 
advantage  of  surrounding  shrubbery  and  tombs,  gets 
lost  with  her  young  gallant,  who,  while  dawdling  about 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  2 3 

by  her  side,  has,  with  modern  love  of  comfort,  after 
asking  permission,  pulled  out  a  short  pipe,  plugged  it 
with  Cavendish  and  added  the  poetry  of  smoke  to  the 
presence  of  loveliness  among  romantic  surroundings. 
Their  conversation  indicates  that  they  are  already  al- 
most affianced. 

"  By-the-by,"  remarks  Arthur,  as  he  saunters  beside 
his  attractive  charge,  "  I  expect  my  sister  on  the  next 
Pacific  Mail  boat.  Coming  out  again  to  visit  her 
bachelor  brother,  and  all  that,  don't  yer  know." 

"  Oh,  the  lady  who  gave  you  the  letter  of  introduc- 
tion to  me,"  remarks  Mrs.  Elton,  pleasantly.  "  Imo- 
gene  and  I  were  religious  comrades.  She  has  doubt- 
less written  you  that  we  took  a  retreat  together  in  the 
Protestant  Sisterhood  of  St.  Ursula,  near  Bruges,  and 
remained  several  months  as  visitors  of  that  institution." 

"  Ah,  yes,  making  auricular  confession  to  the  Rev- 
erend Vestry  Stole,  I  believe.  I  hope  he  gave  good, 
long  prayers  and  many  penances  for  your  numerous 
flirtations." 

"  Oh,  yes ;  but  not  enough  to  cure  me,"  laughs 
Flora. 

"  Yes,  you  need  a  right  down  savage,  jealous  hus- 
band for  that !  "  remarks  her  suitor,  doggedly. 

"  You  must  not  talk  to  me  in  that  way,  you  auda- 
cious boy,"  chides  Mrs.  Elton,  though  she  turns  away 
her  head  and  blushes  vividly,  as  her  cavalier  contin- 
ues, insinuatingly :  "  Perhaps  Imogene  thought  you 
required  one  when  she  gave  me  the  letter  to  you."  He 
is  too  crafty  a  lover  not  to  emphasize  this  with  a  tender 
squeeze  of  the  delicate,  gloved  hand. 

"  Oh,  Arthur,  I  shall  always  thank  your  sister  for 
her  letter  of  introduction,"  murmurs  the  widow  look- 
ing down. 

At  this,  thinking  of  a  very  curious  epistle  in  refer- 
ence to  the  lady  at  his  side,  that  his  sister  has  written 
to  him,  an  exceedingly  peculiar  expression  ripples  Mr. 
Passmere's  clean-cut  features. 


24  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

From  it  may  be  quoted : 

"  Mrs.  Elton  would  be  a  magnificent  prize  I  Very 
lovely  and  exceedingly  rich;  she  is  so  sentimen- 
tal, as  well  as  esthetically  religious,  that  her  ardent 
and  emotional  nature  will  make  her  absolutely  pliable 
to  the  man  who  wins  her  love.  Provided  she  is  first 
snared  astutely  and  then  ruled  with  judicious  autoc- 
racy, not  only  she,  but  her  entire  fortune,  some  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  pounds,  may  be  wholly  yours,  as  this 
is  invested  in  her  own  name  in  English  securities. 
Catch  her !  " 

The  gentleman  looks  about.  Some  graceful  weeping 
willows  and  a  marble  mausoleum  make  the  scene  beau- 
tiful, but  sad.  Behind  them  are  fir-clad  hills;  three 
or  four  laboring  coolie-gardeners,  at  a  distance,  do  not 
interrupt  them ;  they  are  practically  alone. 

"  Supposing  we  take  a  rest,"  he  says,  lazily.  The  lady 
sinks  down,  with  a  little  sigh  upon  a  curbstone.  The 
gentleman,  bending  down  over  the  exquisite  widow, 
looks  curiously  at  her  through  blue  wreaths  of  vapor. 
Her  eyes  are  bright  with  love;  his  with  passion  and 
love  of  gold ;  though  behind  the  brilliant  pupils  is  a 
peculiar  intangible,  occult  calculation,  sinister,  yet 
mathematical 

"  You  have  your  answer  to  my  question,  ready, 
Flora  ?  "  he  whispers. 

"  Oh,  why  are  you  so  impatient,"  pleads  the  lady, 
nervously.  "  You  give  me  so  little  time." 

"  How  can  I  give  you  time  ?  Don't  you  see  I've  got 
to  go  on  to  our  legation  at  Peking?  " 

"  Oh,  you're  connected  with  the  British  legation." 

"  Yes,  but  unofficially,  sub-rosa,  don't  yer  under- 
stand. Now,  if  you  say  the  word,  I'll  take  you  on 
with  me." 

"  Ohr  Arthur !  "  And  Mrs.  Elton  looks  up  tenderly 
to  this  handsome  adventurer,  of  boyish  face  and  mind 
as  astutely  crafty  as  that  of  Lucifer  himself. 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  25 

For  the  only  court  the  Honorable  Arthur  represents 
diplomatically  is  that  of  His  Satanic  Majesty. 

Hong  Kong  thinks  him  an  Englishman ;  he  knows 
he  is  not! 

Over  twenty  years  before  this,  two  children,  named 
Tracey,  of  great  beauty  but  abominable  heredity,  had 
been  left  by  a  dying  courtesan  at  the  Five  Points'  Mis- 
sion in  New  York. 

At  seven  years  of  age  the  girl  manifested  such 
brightness  and  charm  that,  without  proper  enquiry  as 
to  her  parentage,  she  had  been  adopted  by  a  maiden 
lady  of  country  location  and  comfortable  fortune  named 
Passmere.  Some  eleven  years  after,  the  death  of  her 
protectress,  who  had  also  given  her  her  name,  left 
Miss  Imogene  Tracey  Passmere  with  a  moderate  com- 
petency. 

The  brother,  Tom  Tracey,  gleaned  also  from  the  Five 
Points'  Mission  in  New  York,  on  account  of  his  beau- 
tiful face,  by  the  Reverend  Ezekiah  Reuben  Morrison, 
had  been  taken  when  still  quite  young  to  China  by  that 
missionary.  Educated  at  the  mission  house  Tung- 
chow,  North  China,  by  his  clerical  patron,  his  mind 
being  bright  by  descent  from  a  long  line  of  wary  confi- 
dence men,  astute  rascals  and  adroit  sneak-thieves, 
the  boy  had  acquired  not  only  a  fairly  good  English 
education,  but  many  of  the  Chinese  dialects,  speaking 
these  with  a  fluency  only  acquired  in  childhood.  At 
seventeen  the  young  man  had  become  a  mission  teacher, 
but  about  this  time  his  heredity  unmistakably  display- 
ing itself  in  several  liasons  with  native  girls,  the  Rev- 
erend Ezekiah  Morrison  had  dismissed  his  protege 
from  the  mission  house  with  his  anathema  and  a  horse- 
whipping. 

So  Tracey  had  drifted  from  Chinese  teacher,  at 
Tung-chow,  into  the  life  of  an  adventurer  among  the 
treaty  ports  and  trading  places  of  Northern  China, 
where  his  intimate  and  fluent  knowledge  of  Chinese 
had  obtained  for  him  employment  with  the  American 


26  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Consul  at  Chefpo.  Here,  after  a  year  or  two,  he  had 
been  joined  by  his  sister,  who  had  just  come  into  her 
money  by  the  death  of  the  woman  who  had  adopted 
her. 

During  her  visit,  Tom  Tracey  had  assumed  his  sis- 
ter's name  and  taken  unto  himself  the  much  more  aris- 
tocratic cognomen  of  Arthur  Cochrane  Passmere. 
Somewhat  later  in  life  he  had  become  attached  to  the 
bureau  of  Sir  Robert  Hart,  Inspector  General  of  Impe- 
rial Chinese  customs.  Losing  this  position,  having 
gained  great  knowledge  of  the  opium  trade  and  also 
considerable  insight  into  the  enormous  profits  of  opium 
smuggling,  his  sister  furnishing  the  capital  for  the  ven- 
ture, Mr.  Passmere  had  adopted  this  nefarious,  but 
popular  industry,  making  quite  a  tidy  sum  of  money  at 
Wenchoo. 

Dissatisfied  by  the  social  standing  given  to  her 
brother  in  Northern  China,  Miss  Imogene  Tracey 
Passmere  had  sailed  for  Europe,  taking  with  her  her 
portion  of  the  profits  of  the  opium  industry.  On  the 
Continent,  her  heredity  exhibiting  itself  vividily, 
this  young  lady  had  made  several  Bohemian  ventures, 
sung  a  little,  painted  a  little,  chiseled  a  little,  had  some 
desperate  intrigues  with  gentlemen  in  European  cap- 
itals and  had  finally,  for  very  emotional  variety,  been 
aesthetic  during  a  short  season  and  a  devotee  at  St. 
Ursula's. 

Here  to  Mrs.  Elton's  misfortune,  Miss  Imogene 
Tracey  Passmere  had  chanced  to  meet  her.  In 
the  confidences  produced  by  mutual  penance  and  the 
intimacy  of  fasting  side  by  side,  the  young  lady  had 
learned  a  good  deal  about  the  widow's  affairs,  and  that 
she  was  meditating  very  shortly  visiting  China.  Into 
her  brilliant  and  unscrupulous  mind  had  flown  a  coup 
for  her  brother  and  incidentally  some  profit  to  her- 
self. She  had  written  some  very  crafty,  yet  sound 
advice,  to  the  Honorable  Arthur  Cochrane  Passmere 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  27 

and  enclosed  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  beautiful 
Mrs.  Elton. 

For  Imogene's  brother  has,  of  his  own  volition,  by 
this  time  prefixed  to  his  name  the  title  of  Honorable. 
During  his  wanderings  he  has  also  become  legally  a 
subject  of  the  English  crown,  thinking  Her  Majesty's 
government  a  better  protection  than  any  other  in  the 
Far  East. 

For  the  last  two  months  he  has  waited  for  Mrs.  El- 
ton at  Hong  Kong.  Just  across  at  Kau-lung  he  has 
a  little  villa,  and  lives  in  bachelor  state,  servants  being 
cheap.  Not  being  in  trade,  and  bearing  an  impressive 
prefix  to  his  name,  he  is  deemed  ostensibly  a  gen- 
tleman and  has  received  entree  to  the  Hong  Kong  Club. 

He  is  generally  regarded  as  an  unattached  diplomat. 
There  is  no  one  to  contradict  this,  for  though  the  num- 
ber of  Europeans  in  any  treaty  port  is  so  small  that 
most  people  know  everybody  else's  business,  still  this 
gentleman's  operations  have  been  nearly  altogether  in 
North  China  and  he  has  not  yet  been  recognized.  Of 
course,  in  time  the  Honorable  Arthur  will  be  known  as 
well  in  Hong  Kong  as  he  is  in  Wenchoo,  but  before 
this  he  is  determined  to  make  the  rich  widow  his  prey. 

He  is  playing  his  game  very  well.  With  an  astute- 
ness born  of  the  devil,  this  fair,  curly-headed,  gray- 
eyed,  Oriental,  boyish  chevalier  d' Industrie  conceals 
his  emotions  under  an  assumed  British  nonchalance 
which  is  about  as  good  a  diplomatic  parry  as  the 
"  Chinese  closed-eye  "  or  "  Russian-legation-stare"  ; 
and  disguises  his  sentiments  in  that  indefinite  collo- 
quial English  picked  up  on  many  bunds  and  cultivated 
at  several  Anglo-Chinese  clubs,  which  is  nigh  as  diffi- 
cult to  accurately  construe  as  Chinese  patois  or  Kal- 
muck jabber. 

A  moment  after  he  says,  hurriedly :  "  But  you  must 
keep  mum  about  my  diplomatic  mission,  Flora ;  it's 
a  secret  between  me  and  Sir  Claude  Macdonald,  that 
if  it  came  out  would  set  the  Peking  legations  wild !  " 


28  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  Oh,  Arthur,  as  if  I  could  ever  betray  a  statesman's 
confidence,"  murmurs  the  widow,  in  radiant  admira- 
tion, and  the  two  drift  into  a  lovers'  conversation. 

During  this  time,  left  by  themselves,  the  young 
American  girl  and  her  Japanese  escort  find  themselves 
beyond  the  outskirts  of  the  cemetery.  Wandering 
up  one  of  the  little  ravines  which  gradually  grows 
wilder  in  its  shrubbery  of  rank  bushes  and  weeds, 
Eira  seats  herself  upon  a  piece  of  weather-stained 
granite,  gazes  dreamily  upon  the  green  sea  of  foliage 
shading  the  last  resting  places  of  many  gallant 
spirits  who  have  gone  down  in  the  fights  of  commerce 
against  plague  and  cholera  and  in  the  battles  of  war 
against  Black-flags,  pirates  and  general  Eastern  sav- 
agery, and  signs  for  Osuri  to  take  place  beside  her. 

"  You  can  smoke  also.  I  noticed  Mr.  Passmere  en- 
joying his  pipe  fifteen  minutes  ago,  Captain  Katsuma," 
observes  Miss  Boardman,  lightly.  You  don't  effect  the 
meerschaum,  but  I've  seen  your  hand  wander  abstract- 
edly twice  toward  the  pocket  that  holds  your  cigar 
case." 

"  Thank  you ;  you're  both  observing  and  kind,"  re- 
turns the  Japanese.  "  Perhaps  some  times  too  kind," 
he  sighs,  in  moody  despondence. 

"  Why,  I've  only  permitted  you  the  most  formal  priv- 
ileges of  your  sex,  Captain  Katsuma"  replies  the  young 
lady,  her  tone  growing  somewhat  colder. 

"  Ah,  but  like  Ama-Terasu,  our  sun  goddess,  you 
have  let  me  look  upon  your  face  and  that  makes  me 
nigh  onto  a  god,"  he  murmurs,  the  softness  of  passion 
coming  into  his  Oriental  voice.  "  Now  I  shall  sit  in 
your  sunshine." 

Producing  a  regalia,  he  lights  up  and  permits  the 
wreaths  of  vapor  to  curl  about  his  cameo  face  as  he 
throws  himself  almost  at  Eira's  pretty  feet  and  gazes 
upon  the  blushing  yet  troubled  countenance  of  his 
charming  companion. 

But  if  American  young  ladies  know  how  to  inspire 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  29 

passion,  they  have  the  art  to  prevent  its  inconvenient 
declaration.  Though  Miss  Boardman  prods  her  little 
boot  with  the  ferule  of  her  white  parasol  nervously,  she 
instantly  says,  in  school-mistress  command :  "  You 
sometimes  mention  your  Japanese  mythology.  Tell 
me  at  once  something  about  it ;  likewise  your  re- 
ligion— if — if  you  have  any  ?  "  Her  tone  is  mischiev- 
ously impertinent,  but,  lover-like,  Osuri  thinks  it  ex- 
quisite in  its  piquant  witchery. 

"  That's  easy  to  do,"  he  replies.  "  We  have  as  grand 
a  mythology  as  the  ancient  Greeks,  and  a  religion  much 
more  sensible.  Like  most  of  the  aristocracy  of  Japan, 
I  am  a  follower  of  Shinto." 

"  Oh,  you're  not  a  Buddhist?  " 

"  No,  that's  a  religion  for  our  masses,  excellent  to 
keep  common  humanity  contented  and  in  order.  It's 
very  much  like  Christianity  without  Christ.  The  prin- 
ciples are  about  the  same.  The  Lord's  Prayer  was 
uttered  by  Confucius,  centuries  before  the  Chris- 
tian era." 

"  Oh  mercy,  you're  quite  an  atheist,"  shudders  the 
young  lady. 

"  No,  all  Shintoists  are  Deists.  We  believe  in  Izan- 
agi,  the  father  of  both  the  gods  and  the  human  race, 
the  great  first  cause,  from  whom  descended  the  Mika- 
do !  It  is  a  Shinto's  religion,  sentiment,  morality — 
whatever  you  like  to  call  it — to  obey  absolutely  his 
emperor,  as  the  representative  of  God ;  likewise  to  yield 
implicit  obedience  to  his  father." 

"  Goodness !  Then  Shintoism  isn't  likely  to  be  popu- 
lar in  the  United  States,"  observes  Miss  Boardman, 
airily. 

"  No,  I'm  sorry  to  say  that  I  have  seen  even  in  you," 
replies  the  Japanese  in  solemn  reproof,  "a  careless  dis- 
regard of  your  father's  commands  at  times,  for  which 
I  have  wondered  he  didn't  reprove  you." 

"  Reprove  me!"  echoes  Miss  Young  America  haugh- 
tily. "My  father  wouldn't  dare  to;  I'm  twenty  years 
.of  a?e," 


30  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  And  I'm  nigh  onto  twenty-seven,  and  I  wouldn't 
dare  to  disobey  my  father.  It  would  bring  a  curse 
upon  me,"  says  the  young  man  earnestly.  "  Even  now 
I  have  written  to  my  father  asking  his  permission  to 
enter  into — into  marriage.  I  but  await  his  reply " 

The  ardor  of  Osuri's  Eastern  eyes  disconcerts  Miss 
Eira  Boardman,  though  she  has  gone  through  a  New 
York  season.  Its  repressed  passion  makes  her  tremble. 

She  mutters  to  herself  remorsefully :  "  Great  Heav- 
ens, if  Jim  knew !  "  There  is  an  abashed  look  upon  her 
face,  a  tremor  in  her  voice ;  she  rises  and  turns  coldly 
away. 

Still  his  hot  breath  is  fanning  her  shoulder;  she 
fancies  she  can  hear  his  heart  beat. 

She  has  kindled  a  fire  she  knows  she  must  quench ; 
she  turns  upon  him  and  sneers :  "  And  you,  Captain 
Katsuma,  who  pretend  to  be  a  commander  of  men ;  to 
lead  your  troops  into  action ;  to  be  not  only  a  man  but 
a  soldier,  obey  papa  like  a  whipped  child !  " 

"A  true  soldier  learns  obedience  first,  command  af- 
terwards !  "  he  replies  hotly  to  her  almost  absurd 
taunt. 

But  unheeding  both  the  stout  words  and  the  re- 
proachful glances  of  wounded  manhood,  Eira  strides 
hurriedly  along  a  little  path  leading  up  into  the  recesses 
of  the  fir-clad  hills  till  after  a  few  steps  her  course  is 
barred  by  a  low  mud  wall  overgrown  with  weeds,  ap- 
parently that  of  a  deserted  hut.  Before  this  she  stands, 
gazing  into  a  little  orifice  in  its  mud  face.  Anxious  to 
turn  the  subject,  she  cries:  "Guess  what's  in  this  hole, 
Captain  Katsuma.  Looks  as  if  it  might  contain  hidden 
treasure." 

She  is  half  concealed  from  him  by  a  rank  semi-tropi- 
cal bush,  but  he  springing  beside  her,  seizes  the  little 
white  gloved  fingers  that  are  about  to  be  inserted  into 
the  small  circular  opening,  and  gasps:  "  Don't  put  your 
hand  into  that  hole !  " 


FLAGS.  $t 

"  Why  not,  if  I  please?  I'm  not  in  leading  strings, 
if  you  are.  1  zvill  put  it  in !  " 

As  she  speaks  she  finds  herself  seized  around  the 
waist  by  a  pair  of  arms  that  seem  like  springs  of  steel 
in  their  agile  power.  She  is  lifted  as  if  she  were  a 
child,  kicking  about  her  feet  among  her  fluttering  petti- 
coats, and  placed  behind  the  Japanese  captain. 

"  How  dare  you  touch  me !  How  dare  you !  How 
dare  you !  " 

"  For  this !   Have  you  ever  seen  a  snake's  hole  ?  " 

"  Snake's  hole !  " 

"Perhaps  you  will  forgive  me  now!" 

Katsuma's  cane  darts  like  a  flash  of  lighting  into  the 
recess.  Ten  seconds  after  that  dread  head  of  the 
hooded  snake  which  has  presaged  sudden  death  to  so 
many  in  the  East  Indies  rises  from  the  opening,  its 
fangs  erect,  its  hood  extended. 

Miss  Boardman  utters  a  cry  of  horror.  The  next 
instant,  quick  as  the  cut  of  a  cavalry  saber,  comes  the 
cane  of  the  Japanese  captain,  and  the  cobra  half  de- 
capitated is  thrown  writhing  twenty  feet  away. 

With  a  low  cry  Osuri  turns  from  death  to  beauty, 
muttering  hoarsely :  "  Forgive  me !  " 

"  Forgive  you,"  she  says  quietly.  "  Why  you  have 
saved  my  life." 

Then  the  danger  being  past,  Eira  Boardman,  woman- 
like, fainting,  would  sink  down,  but  his  arms  close 
around  the  slight  waist  of  the  swooning  girl. 

He  is  carrying  her  down  the  path.  The  rapture  of 
holding  in  his  embrace  the  woman  of  his  love  causes 
the  strong  man  to  stagger ;  the  exquisite  beauties  of  her 
form  pressed  close  to  his  for  one  instant  make  him  half 
crazy  with  almost  divine  ecstasy  as  he  reverently  kisses 
the  pallid  cheek  of  Eira  Boardman  and  begs  her  to 
come  to  life  for  his  sake. 

Then  conscious  that  such  caress  of  his  helpless  god- 
dess is  unworthy  of  true  love,  he  places  her  recumbent 
against  a  boulder  overgrown  with  moss  by  the  side  of 


$2  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

the  rivulet,  and  drawing  up  water  in  his  hat  from  its 
trickling  stream,  tosses  it  upon  the  fair  face  that  is 
now  so  white. 

A  few  moments  of  such  attentions  and  her  blue 
eyes  open,  the  lilies  of  her  cheeks  become  pink ;  she 
says  slowly :  "  I  am  afraid  my  display  of  nerves 
alarmed  you,  Captain  Katsuma,  you  must  think  me  a 
disgrace  to  the  advanced  womenhood  of  Yankeeland." 

"  Thank  the  gods  you  are  not  unsexed ;  that  you 
need  protection ;  that  my  support  was  your  aid !  "  mur- 
murs Osuri. 

The  rapture  of  his  glances  covers  their  object  with 
a  shrinking,  almost  pathetic  self-abasement.  She  is 
murmuring  to  herself :  "  I  should  have  told  him  be- 
fore. What  is  maiden  bashfulness  to  breaking  a  man's 
heart.  He  should  have  known  the  truth." 

But  Eira  Boardman's  remorse  would  be  greater,  her 
humiliation  deeper,  did  she  guess  that  her  very  efforts 
to  avoid  the  declaration  of  the  young  Japanese  officer 
have  but  given  him  a  hope  that  makes  him  nearly  de- 
lirious with  joy.  For  all  the  time  he  is  saying  to  him- 
self:  "  My  darling's  anger  arose  when  I  told  her  I  had 
written  to  my  father  asking  permission  to  offer  mar- 
riage. My  goddess  is  indignant  that  my  love  was  so 
cold  it  could  wait  even  for  parental  blessing." 

"  You  needn't  throw  any  more  water  on  my  face, 
please,"  pleads  the  young  lady  half  laughingly.  "  My 
cheeks  are  so  wet,  Flora  will  think  I — I  have  been 
weeping.  You — you  wouldn't  want  her  to  suppose  that 
you  had  brought  tears  to  my  eyes." 

The  answer  of  Katsuma  half  frightens  and  half  as- 
tounds her.  He  whispers.  "  That  I  could  bring  tears 
to  your  eyes  would  be  the  triumph  of  my  life.  Old 
Japan  has  a  maxim,  '  When  a  woman  weeps,  she 
loves.' " 

"  Not  always,"  remarks  Miss  Boardman,  as  coldly 
as  if  Osuri  had  been  throwing  ice-water  upon  her  in- 
stead of  the  tepid  drainage  of  a  Hong  Kong  rivulet. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  33 

She  is  regaining  her  composure.  Rising,  the  alluring 
American  says  icily :  "  I  suppose  by  this  time  my 
chaperon  will  be  looking  for  me,"  and  strides  rapidly 
down  the  path. 

"  Ah,  now  you  will  keep  me  at  a  greater  distance ; 
now  I've  spoken  a  little — but  not  enough,"  murmurs 
Katsuma  reproachfully,  as  he  follows  her. 

"  Pish,  you  talk  as  romantically  as  if  you  were  at 
West  Point  on  Flirtation  Walk  or  under  Kissing  Rock 
or  even  in  the  great  mysteries  of  First-classman's  Cave, 
where  the  cadet  hangs  up  his  cap  on  a  neighboring 
branch,  and  his  tete-a-tete  with  beauty  is  sacred," 
laughs  the  pursued  one,  attempting  to  conceal  embar- 
rassment under  frivolity. 

"  How  do  you  know  so  much  of  West  Point  ro- 
mance? You've  never  been  there,  Miss  Eira,  I  be- 
lieve," he  says,  a  shade  of  anxious  suspicion  rippling 
his  expressive  features. 

•  "  No,  but  I've  heard,"  she  smiles.  Then  Miss  Board- 
man's  face  becomes  fiery  with  burning  blushes.  She 
presses  her  hand  lovingly  yet  rapturously  to  her  throb- 
bing bosom,  and  feeling  upon  it  a  little  bauble  hung 
round  her  white  neck  by  a  delicate  golden  chain,  she 
thinks :  "  Fool  that  I've  been !  I  should  have  shown 
him  this  before!  Then — he's  a  West  Pointer — he 
must  have  guessed !  " 

Even  as  this  flashes  through  her  mind,  the  sound  of 
a  distant  cannon  comes  floating  up  to  her  over  the 
graves  of  the  Happy  Valley. 

"  Hello,  isn't  it  a  little  too  early  to  be  the  sunset 
gun !  "  remarks  Katsuma,  looking  at  his  watch.  Then 
next  moment  he  says,  a  curious  wistfulness  in  his 
voice :  "  I  imagined  it  might  be  another  English  vic- 
tory in  South  Africa." 

"  Why  do  you  guess  the  British  have  defeated  the 
Boers  ?  "  queries  Eira,  opening  her  eyes. 

"  Tactics !  "  replies  the  young  West  Pointer  senten- 
tiously.  Then  his  face  becomes  curiously  anxious ;  he 


34  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

asks  nervously :  •"  Your  father  really  intends  to  take 
you  to  Peking,  Miss  Boardman?" 

"  Certainly !  "  replies  the  maid.  Her  eyes  grow 
sadly  contemplative;  she  murmurs:  "Only — only  one 
thing  could  by  any  chance  prevent  it — and  that  is  im- 
possible !  " 

"  Tell  me  the  impossible !  " 

Eira  Boardman  doesn't  answer  him.  She  droops  her 
head  and  bursts  out  crying  as  if  her  heart  is  broken. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  DAIMIO'S  BLESSING. 

What  attempts  at  consolation,  Osuri  in  his  passion 
for  his  divinity  might  offer  to  her  tears,  is  con- 
jectural ;  for  before  her  astounded  escort  can  utter 
words  of  solace  or  place  lover's  hand  upon  her,  Eira 
darts  from  him  and  running  with  the  speed  of  a  fright- 
ened fawn,  flies  down  the  path.  Ere  he  can  overtake 
her  in  a  short  two  minutes'  run,  she  is  standing  beside 
Mrs.  Elton  and  the  nonchalant  Passmere,  who  takes 
his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth  and  remarks:  "  By  Jove,  my 
Japanese  friend,  it  looks  at  if  you're  not  in  form  for  a 
footrace  with  athletic  new  woman,  don't  yer  know,  old 
fellah." 

But  Osuri  Katsuma  only  gazes  at  Miss  Boardman, 
an  astonished  expression  upon  his  mobile  features.  He 
has  observed  American  beauty  in  its  various  stages  of 
flirtation,  romance  and  love  at  the  West  Point  Acad- 
emy ;  he  has  seen  them  run  away  from  military  adorers 
along  Flirtation  Walk  or  dodge  amorous  Plebes  under 
Kissing  Rock ;  but  American  beauty  in  these  cases  has 
always,  at  the  last,  been  overtaken.  He  has  not  over- 
taken Eira  Boardman.  Still  perhaps  she  didn't  expect 
to  run  upon  the  widow  and  her  escort  quite  so 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  35 

soon.  Some  weeping  willows  and  a  marble  tomb  had 
screened  them  from  her. 

To  him  his  enigma  affords  no  immediate  chance  for 
inquiry.  In  a  down-hearted,  hang-dog  way,  the  young 
lady  keeps  very  close  to  her  chaperon's  side. 

A  s  they  return  to  the  carriage,  noting  the  traces  of 
wa'  ery  emotion,  Mr.  Passmen  chaffs  the  new  Atlanta 
ej*  :ulating  cheerily :  "  Deuce  take  me,  but  you  Amer- 
ici  n  girls  are  up  to  snuff." 

""  How  so  ?  "  falters  Eira  suspiciously. 

"  Dont  yer  know  running  in  the  breezes  always  dries 
teary  cheeks  ?  "  laughs  the  Honorable  Arthur. 

At  this,  her  chaperon  putting  glance  upon  her 
charge,  exclaims :  "  Great  goodness  Eira,  you  have 
been  crying !  "  then  turns  eyes  of  perchance  angry 
inquiry  upon  the  young  lady's  escort. 

Osuri  is  about  to  reply,  when  he  starts  aston- 
ished at  the  easy  yet  truthful  way  by  which  the 
quick-witted  American  girl  destroys  inquiry.  "  Yes," 
she  breaks  in,  "  I — I  nearly  put  my  hand  into  a  cobra's 
hole,  and  Captain  Katsuma  killed  the  reptile." 

"  A  cobra's  hole !  "  screams  Mrs.  Elton,  "  Good 
Heavens,  are  there  such  things  about  here?  Let's  get 
away  instantly." 

"  At  one  time  they  were  more  numerous  on  the 
island,"  remarks  the  Japanese.  "  Fortunately  now, 
they  are  quite  rare." 

Then  despite  his  innate  politeness  he  can't  help 
sneering :  "  That  broken  bough  isn't  one !  "  For  Flora 
at  this  point  gives  a  little  shriek  and  bounds  high  in  the 
air  over  a  small  dead  limb  that  is  lying  in  her  path. 

"  Yes,  but  it's  growing  dark,"  she  falters,  "and  I 
may  step  upon  one  and  never  know  it  until — until  its — 
its  fangs — My  God,  what's  that  ?"  Draping  her  white 
skirts  about  her,  the  lovely  widow  giving  a  charming 
display  of  most  graceful  ankles  exquisitely  hosed  skips 
chudderingly  and  tremblingly  along  the  road. 

Upon  this  Passmere  gazes  for  a  moment ;  then  noting 


36  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

this  display  comes  under  other  eyes  his  face  flushes 
with  jealous  anger.  Perchance  wishing  to  test  his 
power  over  the  fair  figurante,  he  strides  after  Mrs. 
Elton,  and  getting  'beside  her  whispers  severely: 
"  Flora,  I  am  astounded  at  this  public  skirt  dancing." 

"  I — I  can't  help  it — I'm  so  afraid  of  snakes  !  "  shud- 
ders the  lady. 

"  Nevertheless,  it  must  not  occur  again — It's  almost 
immodest."  Mr.  Passmere's  tone  is  ministerial. 

"  Oh  Arthur — please  donM:  speak  in  that  way  to  me," 
pleads  the  widow,  and  her  brown  eyes  fill  with  tears. 

The  young  adventurer's  cold  gray  orbs  light  up  with 
triumph  as  he  notes  Flora  does  not  resent  his  posses- 
sive manner  and  droops  under  his  criticism.  He  thinks : 
"  If  a  severe  word  makes%  her  weep,  my  game  is  won." 

Fortunately  they  are  near  his  equipage,  where  it  takes 
considerable  time  and  much  attention  by  the  Honorable 
Arthur  to  place  his  charge's  charmingly  outlined  figure 
into  this  haven  of  refuge. 

Miss  Boardman  is  now  at  the  carriage.  Osuri  of- 
fers to  aid  her  to  a  seat  beside  her  chaperon,  but  the 
delicate  hand  of  the  young  lady  is  scare  a  feather 
weight  upon  the  arm  of  this  man  whose  love  smites 
her  with  a  merciless  remorse. 

As  they  roll  through  the  city,  the  conversation  of  all 
four  is  practically  compelled  to  turn  upon  South  Africa. 
There  is  a  rumor  that  Mafeking  has  been  relieved. 
Though  the  report  chances  to  be  premature  by  several 
weeks,  elated  crowds  fill  the  streets,  and  cheer  for 
the  success  of  British  arms  and  the  English  field- 
marshal  whose  tactical  skill  has  in  a  few  months 
brought  victory  to  his  country's  banners. 

During  considerable  enthusiastic  patriotism,  Mr. 
Passmere's  face  has  a  knowing  look  as  if  he  had  also 
won  a  victory  as  well  as  Baden-Powell,  and  the  brown 
eyes  of  Flora  Elton  droop  before  his  with  a  peculiar 
diffidence. 

Upon  his  companion's  emotions,  the  Japanese  officer 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  37 

gazes  carelessly,  though  his  eyes,  as  they  meet  Eira's, 
display  an  almost  pathetic  inquiry.  Even  after  they 
have  gone  up  on  the  tram,  as  he  and  Passmere  bid 
their  charges  adieu  at  the  Peak  Hotel,  the  young  lady 
whose  bashful  poses  sometimes  give  him  rapture,  some- 
times doubt,  permits  him  no  opportunity  of  private 
word. 

Just  as  they  turn  to  leave,  the  Honorable  Arthur 
suggests :  "  Of  course,  I  shall  see  you  at  Mrs.  Mur- 
ray's fete  this  evening.  Her  dance  will  doubtless  now 
be  a  jubilee  over  Roberts  and  Baden-Powell,"  adding 
quite  eagerly :  "  You'll  join  in  our  rejoicings,  won't 
you,  Mrs.  Elton  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  England's  cause  is  my  cause  now," 
whispers  Flora,  as  if  some  happening  of  the  day  had 
made  her  almost  a  British  subject. 

"You  also,  Miss  Boardman?  You've  both  got 
cards,  don't  yer  know,"  continues  Arthur,  a  flash  of 
emotion  struggling  with  assumed  immobility  of  feat- 
ure. 

"  If  papa  will  take  me,"  replies  Eira. 

"  Nonsense,  lie's  bound  to !  I  never  saw  a  pater- 
familias so  under  a  daughter's  thumb,"  laughs  Pass- 
mere.  "I  can  book  you  also,  Captain  Katsuma!  I'll 
have  a  card  at  your  hotel  in  an  hour.  Georgina  Mur- 
ray always  wants  military  swells,  and  this  will  be  a 
martial  affair  with  such  jolly  news  from  old  'Babs.' ' 

"  Yes,  I — I  think  so,"  answers  the  Japanese  officer. 
Turning  to  the  American  girl,  he  suggests  earnestly: 
"  You  haven't  answered,  Miss  Boardman." 

"  Very  well,  I'll  go !  "  replies  the  young  lady  in  de- 
termined tone,  her  eyes  meeting  her  questioner's  quite 
firmly,  for  now  she  has  made  up  her  mind :  "  Best 
settle  this  affair  at  once  ;  even  if  papa  finds  out !  Even 
if "  Her  pearly  teeth  snap  together  recklessly. 

"  Thank  you,"  says  Osuri  simply,  hope  making  his 
expressive  features  radiant.  To  this  he  adds :  "  You 
will  hardly  be  going  till  ten.  Please  tell  your  esteemed 


38  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

father  I  shall  call  upon  him*  at  half  past  nine,"  and 
walks  off  leaving  Miss  Boardman  faltering  to  herself: 
"  Good  Heavens,  does  this  Japanese  explosive  mean  to 
ask  my  father  for  me.  Oh  mercy,  then — then  it  will 
all  come  out !  " 

A  moment  later  an  expression  of  relief  ripples  her 
mobile  features ;  she  half  laughs :  "  Pish  I'm  fright- 
ened at  shadows.  Katsuma  will  never  make  his  pas- 
sion formal,  till  he  receives  the  assent  and  blessing  of 
the  patriarch  of  the  Katsuma  tribe." 

As  the  Japanese  captain  rides  down  the  hill  he  re- 
marks to  his  companion :  "  My  dear  Passmere,  I  hope 
our  hostess  will  excuse  me  wearing  uniform.  As  an 
officer  of  the  Japanese  Army  it  would  not  be  well  for 
me  professionally  to  take  part  in  your  rejoicings  for 
the  English  victory,  though  I'd  like  to  shake  hands  with 
Baden-Powell  after  his  seven  months'  heroic  resistance 
in  that  isolated  bush-frontier  town." 

"  Very  well,  old  man,  come  in  mufti  if  you  like,"  re- 
plies the  putative  Englishman. 

Soon  after  they  are  at  the  corner  of  Queen's  Road 
and  Wyndham  Street  standing  in  the  midst  of  an  ex- 
cited concourse  whose  antics  and  hurrahs  show  that 
the  sturdy  Anglo-Saxon  race  can  become  as  enthusias- 
tic as  the  old  Romans  did  over  a  triumph  of  their  le- 
gions in  distant  Syria,  ancient  Germania  or  far  off 
Ultima  Thuli.  Suddenly  Passmere  starts,  looks  at  his 
watch  and  mutters:  "By  Jove,  I've  an  appointment!  " 
then  shakes  hands  elaborately  with  himself  and  elbows 
his  way  through  the  crowd. 

Gazing  after  his  companion's  departing  figure,  Kat- 
suma wonders  why  this  man,  who  is  apparently  an 
Englishman,  should  have  so  many  extreme  Oriental 
mannerisms.  But  no  lover  is  particularly  suspicious  of 
another  lover,  unless  they  are  both  lovers  of  the  same 
woman.  And  the  Japanese  gives  little  heed  to  the 
wooer  of  Mrs.  Elton. 

A  moment  later  Qsuri  springs  hurriedly  up  to  his 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  39 

rooms  in  the  Hong  Kong  Hotel.  These  he  has  occu- 
pied for  some  little  time.  They  look  out  upon  the 
Praya  and  a  slight  oreeze  enters  their  windows  from 
the  roadstead.  •  A  homelike  Dai-Nippon  appearance 
has  been  given  to  them  by  his  faithful  Nihonese  boy, 
Saraki,  who  has  tastefully  arranged  some  of  those  cu- 
rious fusuma  or  paper  partitions  peculiar  to  the  Jap- 
anese about  the  apartment,  cutting  off  a  corner  in 
which  he  has  reverently  placed  some  small  sticks  with 
little  strips  of  paper  attached  to  them  that  flutter 
languidly  in  the  breeze  of  a  briskly  moving  punka  op- 
erated by  two  distant  coolies. 

His  sword  of  etiquette  crossed  by  a  cavalry  saber, 
which  has  an  American  appearance,  hanging  on 
the  wall,  remind  Katsuma  of  West  Point.  Beneath,  is 
a  picture  of  his  class  at  the  military  academy  on  the 
Hudson,  besides  several  individual  photographs  in  ca- 
det gray  that  are  mixed  with  those  of  officers  in  Jap- 
anese uniforms  and  court  dresses,  prominent  among 
them  being  a  likeness  of  a  young  Anglo-Saxon,  beneath 
which  is  written  "  Pills."  This  is  nearly  opposite  that 
of  a  kindly  faced  feudal-looking  old  daimio,  who  in  the 
costume  of  Ancient  Japan  wears  the  traditional  two 
swords ;  the  short  one  to  give  him  happy  dispatch  from 
the  cares  of  this  world ;  the  long  one  for  his  enemies. 

As  Osuri  enters,  his  Japanese  boy  after  the  manner 
of  his  country,  throws  himself  at  his  master's  feet  and 
touches  the  floor  with  his  forehead. 

"  Jump  up,  Saraki !  "  cries  his  master  good  tem- 
peredly ;  then  asks  hurriedly :  "  Any  mail  ?  " 

"  Yes,  honored  captain,"  and  the  boy  places  in  Kat- 
suma's  hand  a  sealed  packet  together  with  what  is 
apparently  an  official  communication  from  the  Japanese 
General-Staff,  of  which  the  young  man  is  a  junior 
member. 

"  T  would  be  alone." 

"  As  I  have  noted  you  have  some  weighty  thing  in 
mind,  I  have  taken  the  presumption  of  placing  some 


40  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Shinto  sticks  to  bring  good  fortune  and  turn  the  face 
of  Etna  from  you,  my  master,"  remarks  the  boy  in  af- 
fectionate deference  as  he  departs. 

"  Ema,  the  God  of  Perdition !  It  is  too  much  like  the 
name  of  Eira,  my  divinity,"  shudders  the  young  man ; 
next  mutters :  "  Pish,  I'm  superstitious ;"  then  laughs 
half  mockingly:  "No  more  so  than  Judson  of  the 
Hong  Kong  Club  who  I  saw  but  yesterday  throw  some 
upset  salt  over  his  left  shoulder,  or  old  Hankey  Smith 
at  West  Point,  under  whom  I  boned  mathematics,  who 
used  to  put  on  his  stockings  inside  out  for  luck."  Then 
as  if  in  contradiction  to  himself,  bowing  low  before 
the  picture  of  the  old  daimio,  the  young  man  says  rever- 
ently :  "  The  gods  grant  my  father  places  blessing  upon 
my  desire,"  and  breaks  the  seal  of  the  packet. 

It  contains  a  communication  in  the  script  of  his 
country,  which  is  practically  the  character  of  the 
Chinese,  and  also  a  letter  in  a  modern  envelope. 

To  the  first  of  these  Katusma  gives  his  immediate 
attention.  He  scans  its  peculiar  lettering  with  fluent 
ease,  and  at  its  close  utters  a  sigh  of  rapture  and  hap- 
piness. 

Though  this  is  practically  impossible  of  English 
translation,  it  is  dated  Uzuki,  the  fourth  day,  and  gives 
the  formal  paternal  consent  of  the  old  Japanese  noble 
to  the  marriage  of  his  son  to  the  beautiful  American; 
calling  down  the  blessings  of  the  gods  upon  what  he 
hopes  may  be  a  fruitful  union.  It  warns  Osuri  to  be 
sure  to  get  an  honorable  gentleman  to  act  as  nakoda  or 
witness  at  the  nuptial  ceremonies,  such  a  thing  being 
very  important  to  obtain  the  blessing  of  the  goddess  of 
good  fortune.  In  addition  it  contains  the  following 
more  practical  words :  "  As  .your  nuptials  to  a  young 
lady  of  both  rank  and  fortune  of  the  Great  American 
Republic  will  probably  cost  numerous  kokus  of 
rice,  you  being  a  young  military  butterfly,  I 
send  you  my  draft  on  the  Hong  Kong  Bank  for 
ten  thousand  yens.  I  also  state  to  you  that  my  coun- 
try house,  the  one  in  'which  you  were  born,  near  Hiogp 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  41 

on  the  Inland  Sea,  the  one  you  love,  is  open  to  receive 
you  and  your  bride.  Imagining  my  new  daughter  will 
prefer  to  follow  the  American  custom  of  loneliness  dur- 
ing the  first  month  of  her  nuptials,  1  and  your  mother 
will  not  immediately  take  her  to  our  house.  We  will 
only  visit  her  when  she  desires.  I  send  you  also  a 
bamboo  pole;  may  you  place  a  paper  carp  upon  it 
within  the  year  that  I  may  know  a  son  has  been  born 
to  you !  I  presume  also  from  your  letter  that  your 
tastes  being  American  as  regards  certain  customs  that 
are  common  among  the  Japanese  nobility,  you  do  not 
propose  to  add  any  second  ladies  to  your  household — 
as  least  not  just  at  the  present." 

As  he  reads  the  last,  at  first  an  amused  smile,  then 
almost  a  look  of  horror  ripples  Captain  Katsuma's 
face.  He  mutters :  "  Desecrate  my  divinity  by  giving 
Eira  rivals  ?  Never !  Goddess  of  my  soul,  my  love 
for  you  shall  last  forever !  In  that  at  least,  my  Ameri- 
can education  has  made  me  better  than  some  American 
gentlemen  I  have  known. 

Then  noting  "received  and  forwarded"  upon  the  sec- 
ond letter,  he  tears  open  the  other  epistle.  Glancing 
at  is  enthusiastically,  he  murmurs :  "  From  dear  old 
'  Pills/  "  using  a  West  Point  nickname ;  and  reads  the 
following : 

"  Presidio  Barracks,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

"March  3d,  1900. 
"  DEAR  OLD  BOOM-DE-RAH  : — 

"  Nothing  from  you  since  your  letter  came  congratu- 
lating me  upon  my  good  luck  in  dodging  Spanish  bul- 
lets so  successfully.  Awfully  sorry  your  government 
refused  you  permission  to  volunteer  for  our  war  with 
the  Dons,  or  we  might  have  gone  up  San  Juan  Hill 
together. 

"Since  then  I  have  been  transferred  from  the  Twelfth 
Infantry  to  the  Ninth,  and  by  the  next  steamer  will  be 
en  route  to  join  my  regiment  near  Manila.  Inci- 
dentally this  gives  me  a  chance  to  see  you,  something 


42  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

I  havn't  done  for  nigh  onto  three  years.    As  I  come  by 
the  Pacific  Mail  Boat,  I  shall  look  you  up  in  Tokio. 

"  I  have  had  two  pieces  of  mighty  good  luck  lately. 
Promotion  has  been  rapid.  I  am  a  first  lieutenant 
now ;  something  I  might  have  waited  for  under  the  old 
regime  till  I  grew  gray,  but  the  Spanish  War  has  at 
length  given  an  army  man  something  to  live  for,  or  die 
for  as  the  case  may  be. 

"  Sanders,  Fredericks  and  Philpots  of  our  class  are  in 
the  Ninth,  so  I  shall  have  plenty  of  friends  in  the 
Philippines. 

"I'm  in  an  awful  hurry  and  must  close  this  letter  now 
as  the  ambulance  is  going  into  town  with  the  mail  to 
catch  the  outgoing  steamer,  so  I  shall  have  to  tell  you 
the  rest  of  my  good  fortune  when  I  clasp  your  hand. 
Expect  me  certainly  by  the  next  Pacific  Mail  Steamer. 
"Always  your  friend, 

"J.  BURTON  INGRAHAM. 
"  P.  S. 

"  My  other  good  luck,  is  a  girl !  But  I  couldn't  do  jus- 
tice to  her  in  two  lines.  Good-bye,  the  orderly  is  stand- 
ing at  my  elbow  with  the  mailbag  as  I  seal  this  letter. 

"J.  B.  I." 

As  he  reads  the  last  line  Katsuma,  becoming  quite 
American  in  his  diction,  thinks :  "  By  Jove,  this  takes 
me  back  to  West  Point — I  can  feel  my  chum's  hearty 
hand-clasp  as  we  promised  to  be  brothers," 

He  gazes  affectionately  at  the  photograph  of  the 
frank,  open,  manly  American  face,  that  has  post  of 
honor  on  the  wall  and  mutters :  "  Why  shouldn't  I  get 
'Pills'  for  my  nakoda,  my  witness.  'Pills'  is  as  honor- 
able a  fellow  as  ever  ran  a  guard.  George,  how  he 
stood  by  me  when  as  a  Plebe  they  put  me  through  their 
barbaric  custom  of  hazing,  something  at  that  time  I 
didn't  understand.  Wasn't  he  my  comrade,  my  chum 
of  chums,  for  the  four  years  we  marched  in  the  same 
gray  and  white  cadet  line.  Didn't  he  put  upon  my  fin- 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  43 

ger  our  class  ring  and  wish  me  joy  and  honor  in  the 
profession  of  arms.  'Pills'  shall  be  the  nakoda  at  my 
nuptials."  Then  he  pauses  and  mutters  disappoint- 
edly :  "  But  'Pills'  isn't  a  married  man,  and  no  bachelor 
can  take  that  honored  position.  However,  his  coming 
means  good  luck.  This  letter  has  been  delayed  at 
Tokio  in  transmission."  He  calls  hastily :  "  Saraki, 
quick !  Run  downstairs  and  find  when  the  next  Pacific 
Mail  boat  is  due." 

The  clatter  of  high  clogs  tells  him  his  servant  is 
flying  down  the  stairs. 

Two  minutes  later  the  Japanese  boy  brings  him  word 
the  City  of  Rio  Janeiro  is  due  to-morrow. 

"  By  the  sun  goddess,  this  is  a  good  omen !  "  mur- 
murs the  young  man.  "  If  Eira  looks  benignly  upon 
a  love  she  must  have  guessed;  with  what  pride 
shall  I  introduce  my  coming  bride  to  my  chum  of 
chums."  Next  a  curious  unhappy  fatalism  dominating 
his  features  he  sighs :  "  But  sometimes  I  think  I  have 
been,  as  the  old  maxim  says,  'throwing  a  stone  at  the 
sun ;  attempting  to  scatter  a  fog  with  a  fan  or  trying 
to  dip  up  the  ocean  with  my  hand.'  But  still  another 
declares:  '  Heaven  doesn't  kill  a  man; '  I'll  have  hope 
until  I  know  I  have  despair." 

With  this  he  calls  cheerily :  "  Hi  Saraki !  Get  under 
way  to  the  florist  and  take  up  the  finest  bunch  of 
orchids  with  my  card  to " 

"  To  the  beautiful  lady  at  the  hotel  on  the  hill,"  inter- 
jects the  boy  eagerly. 

"By  Okame  you're  a  wise  youth,"  laughs  the  young 
man ;  then  sighs  sotto  voce:  "  Perhaps  wiser  than  your 
master." 

Still  quite  shortly  Osuri  strolls  down  to  the  Hong 
Kong  Club  on  the  New  Praya,  where  he  takes  his  din- 
ner among  a  very  happy  throng,  though  Mafeking's  re- 
lief is  still  but  a  rumor,  displaying  rather  a  military 
appetite  and  philosophizing:  "I'll  not  anticipate  my 
fate." 


44  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

A  NIGHT  IN  HONG   KONG. 

Some  two  hours  after,  arrayed  in  as  faultless  a  dress 
suit  as  ever  graced  a  duchess's  salon  or  a  Fifth  Ave- 
nue ball-room,  bearing  over  an  immaculate  shirt-front 
just  below  his  white  cravat,  the  Japanese  order  of 
merit,  Captain  Katsuma  walks  into  the  parlor  of  Mr. 
Joel  Luther  Boardman  at  the  Peak  Hotel,  and  is  re- 
ceived with  pleasant  greeting  by  the  father  of  his  ad- 
oration. 

His  words,  could  she  hear  them,  would  greatly  re- 
lieve the  beating  heart  of  a  very  beautiful  young  lady 
who  has  from  her  apartment  surreptitiously  noted  his 
advent,  and  stands  in  her  bedroom  fluttering,  arrayed 
in  a  most  enchanting  ball  dress. 

Presenting  to  the  American  arms  manufacturer,  who 
is  in  evening  costume  and  apparently  ready  to  escort 
his  daughter,  a  draft  from  the  Japanese  treasury,  Osuri 
remarks :  "  Your  signature,  my  dear  Mr.  Boardman, 
to  this  voucher.  Here  is  your  account  made  up  by  the 
War  Office  and  just  forwarded  to  me,  687,625  yens, 
47  sens  and  8  rins." 

"  Hum,  that's  quite  right,"  and  Joel,  opening  his 
desk,  looking  over  his  account  book  and  taking  the 
draft,  gives  his  official  receipt  for  same  in  pleasant  bus- 
iness activity.  Then  gazing  benignly  over  his  specta- 
cles at  the  agent  of  Japan,  he  remarks  affably :  "  Hope 
our  goods  are  satisfactory  enough  to  produce  further 
orders." 

"  Quite  so.  Your  rapid-fires  are  deadly  enough  to 
make  many  widows  and  a  multitude  of  orphans,"  re- 
turns the  military  man. 

"  Glad  to  hear  that!  "  answers, the  American  in  man- 
ufacturer's triumph.  Then  he  goes  on  more  con- 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  45 

templatively  a  rather  sad  tone  in  his  voice :  "  Please 
keep  your  chair.  I  want  your  advice.  This  news  from 
South  Africa  indicates  Old  Kruger,  one  of  my  best 
customers,  is  going  to  the  wall,"  and  sighs.  "  A  peace- 
ful world  is  the  destruction  of  much  honest  industry," 
then  asks  eagerly :  "  As  a  tactical  expert,  Captain 
Katsuma,  what  do  you  think  of  the  Boers'  chances  ?  " 

"  A  few  weeks  more  of  fruitless  resistance, — then 
Pretoria  must  fall.  But  as  guerillas,  they  may  trouble 
Roberts  some  time  longer,"  answers  the  Japanese 
tersely. 

"  Ah,  that  will  put  an  end  to  a  very  profitable  busi- 
ness," grumbles  Mr.  Boardman. 

"  Why  not  exert  yourself  in  arming  your  own  coun- 
try," suggests  Osuri.  "  In  this  world  that  is  becoming 
crowded  and  contracted  by  means  of  our  marvelous 
modern  transportation,  to  avoid  war  a  nation  must  al- 
ways be  prepared  for  battle.  Look  at  China ;  rich  and 
helpless,  though  not  quite  as  helpless  as  she  was  a  few- 
years  ago ;  the  prey  of  bandit  nations  that  come  ten 
thousand  miles  to  despoil  her  of  territory,  to  partition 
her  empire.  Under  the  teachings  of  certain  American 
politicians  who  would  make  your  country  a  China,  the 
fate  of  the  United  States  might  become  as  pitiable." 

"  Never !  "  cries  the  Yankee  savagely.  "  By  Jehosa- 
phat,  just  let  one  of  your  bandit  nations  send  an  army 
to  America  and  we'll  use  every  mother's  son  of  'em 
for  fertilizers.  I'll  plant  a  few  myself !  "  And  a  look 
comes  into  the  old  manufacturer's  face  like  that  of  his 
boyhood  when  he  had  carried  a  musket  at  Antietam 
and  Gettysburg. 

"  And  I  say  'never'  also,  when  I  think  of  West 
Point !  "  returns  Katsuma  fervidly. 

"  Bully !  You  can't  forget  West  Point,  can  you  ?  " 
remarks  the  Yankee  proudly. 

"  How  can  I  forget  a  place  where  I  received  by  the 
hospitality  of  the  American  government  a  superb  mil- 
itary education;  a  place  where  I  had  the  honor  of  the 


46  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

companionship  of  four  hundred  gallant  youths,  who 
took  me,  a  stranger,  and  made  me  their  comrade," 
answers  the  Japanese  earnestly ;  then  his  eyes  lighting 
up,  he  rises  and  bursts  out:  "Ah,  when  I  in  that  long 
gray  cadet  line,  paraded  for  the  last  time  under  the  red, 
white  and  blue,  how  I  prayed  that  the  gods  would 
never  permit  a  war  between  America  and  Japan ;  that 
I  would  never  have  to  raise  my  arm  against  my  class- 
mates and  brothers ;  that  some  day  both  fighting  for  the 
same  cause,  I  might  stand  once  more  in  line  with  my 
old  comrades,  and  every  blow  I  struck  for  Japan  would 
be  a  blow  for  the  starry  banner  I'd  marched  under  for 
four  long  years."  To  this  he  adds  simply :  "  I  tried 
to  volunteer  for  your  Spanish  war  but  my  government 
refused  me  permission." 

"  You  bet,  it  is  a  grand  old  flag  to  fight  for !  "  cries 
Luther. 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  grand  old  flag  if  you  keep  it  flying !  A 
furled  banner  never  amounts  to  much,"  returns  the 
Japanese  in  sententious  philosophy.  Then  a  curious 
anxiety  dominating  his  tone,  he  continues :  "  In  this 
matter  of  bandit  nations  I  have  something  to  say  to  you, 
something  very  important  perhaps  for  the  safety  of  not 
only  yourself,  but  of  your  daughter.  Don't  as  you  love 
her  take  her  with  you  to  Peking ! " 

"Great  Scott,  why  not?" 

"  All  the  news  from  the  Transvaal  shows  that  very 
shortly  two  hundred  thousand  English,  made  veterans 
on  the  veldts  of  South  Africa,  may  be  released  for 
other  service,"  returns  Osuri ;  adding  these  peculiarly 
prophetic  words :  "  This  will  probably  produce  an  al- 
most immediate  outbreak  of  some  kind  in  China." 

"  China  is  eight  thousand  miles  away  from  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope:  you're  crazy!" 

''  Then  why  does  Chieun,  the  Chinese  commissioner, 
hurry  your  shipments  of  arms  to  Peking  by  every 
means  in  his  power  ?  " 

At  this  peculiar  query,  the  American  manufacturer 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  47 

starts  and  looks  astonished,  as  his  visitor  continues: 
"  No  man  who  reads  the  history  of  countries  contigu- 
ous to  Russia  fails  to  find  from  the  time  of  Catherine 
the  Great  that  Muscovite  predatory  seizures  of  addi- 
tional territory  are  always  preceded  by  internal  com- 
motions in  the  states  to  be  despoiled.  Acting  under  the 
plea  of  public  welfare,  she  marches  her  troops  in  and 
pacifies  the  country  by  absorbing  it.  Look  at  the  records 
of  Poland,  of  Turkey,  of  the  Asian  Khanates.  When 
Russia  by  the  a;d  of  complacent  Germany,  who  had  as 
much  logical  right  to  thrust  herself  into  the  Eastern 
question  as  we  would  have  had  to  prevent  her  seizing 
Alsace  and  Lorraine  from  France,  who  also  played  the 
role  of  the  Czar's  catspaw,  made  victorious  Japan  sur- 
render Port  Arthur,  it  was  the  first  station  on  Russia's 
way  to  Peking.  Had  England  accepted  our  offer  of 
alliance,  offensive  and  defensive,  we  would  have  held 
Port  Arthur  till  the  China  Sea  froze  over" — the  eyes  of 
the  Japanese  flame — "and  at  this  moment  there  would 
have  been  but  little  fear  of  Chinese  internal  disturb- 
ance. But  British  success  in  South  Africa  will  cause 
Russia  to  act  very  rapidly.  Already,  I  doubt  not,  Mus- 
covite emissaries  are  inflaming  the  Mongolian  soul." 

"  You  think  China  will  fight  ?  "  asks  the  American. 

"  Why  not  ?  She  has  wrongs  enough  to  make  her 
rise  like  a  single  man.  Do  you  suppose  your  country 
would  endure  having  its  ports  taken  from  it,  and  its 
territory  seized  on  the  most  frivolous  pretences  by  na- 
tions ten  thousand  miles  away." 

"  No  sir,  we'd  fight !  " 

"  What  country  that  loves  itself  wouldn't.  That's 
the  position  of  China.  Only  add  to  this,  barbarous  su- 
perstition, uncivilized  methods  of  war,  judicial  cruelty, 
and  you  have  the  country  into  which,  far  from  pro- 
tecting fleets,  you  will  lead  your  daughter.  Think  of 
that  when  you  take  your  innocent  with  you  to  Peking." 

The  door  is  opened  quietly,  but  the  gentlemen  are 


48  TANGLED  FLA.GS. 

too  much  interested  to  heed  the  light  patter  of  heel- 
less  child's  slippers. 

"  Fiddle-di-dee !  "  jeers  the  American.  "  This  threat- 
ened outbreak  has  been  predicted  for  the  last  thirty 
years." 

"So  were  our  earthquakes,  and  they  came  at  last  and 
found  their  victims,"  murmurs  Osuri  sadly.  "  Ponder 
over  the  warning  of  a  friend  to  you  and — and  your 
child,"  his  voice  trembles  here,  "  one  who  knows  the 
East  better  than  you ;  one  who  has  brought  Western 
methods  of  analysis  upon  the  Manchu  situation  and — 
dread  the  Purple  City." 

But  here  he  is  interrupted  by  a  muttered  execration 
from  the  American :  "  Damnation !  "  cries  Joel,  "Flora's 
little  scoundrel  has  upset  my  ink  bottle  over  my  pa- 
pers!" and  he  rescues  just  in  time  from  obliterating 
writing  fluid  the  precious  draft  from  the  Japanese  gov- 
ernment. 

"  Hello,  my  little  fellow !  "  ejaculates  Katsuma,  after 
replacing  the  overturned  inkstand.  He  is  gazing  at  a 
bright-faced  imp  who  has  the  stature  of  seven  or  eight 
years,  but  whose  sturdy  bare  legs,  well  mosquito  bitten, 
are  clothed  with  the  short  pantalets  and  little  socks  of 
babyhood. 

The  author  of  the  mischief  confronting  him  with 
wary  eyes  ready  to  dodge,  and  a  sturdy  upraised  fist 
cries:  "Arretez  betel" 

"  Who  are  you,  my  little  fighter?  "  laughs  the  Jap- 
anese. 

"  I'm  Harold !  "  says  his  opponent  stoutly,  "  and  I 
won't  go  to  bed !  " 

"Harold  who?" 

"  Harold  Forsyth  Elton." 

"  Well  come  here  and  sit  on  my  knee.  Let  me  have 
a  look  at  you." 

"  Je  ne  suis  pas  une  fille,  and  I  won't !  " 

"  No,  he  ain't  a  girl,"  cuts  in  Joel  savagely,  "but  he's 
the  worst  boy  within  the  four  seas." 


49 

"  1  didn't  know  Mrs.  Elton  had  any  children." 

Just  here  Flora  enters.  From  the  pale  blue  gauzes 
of  a  magnificent  ball  dress  she  raises  a  statuesque 
white  arm  severely  and  proves  her  maternity  by  ejacu- 
lating: "Harold  come  here!  Do  you  suppose  I'll  be 
kept  from  going  out  by  your  didos.  To  bed  at  once, 
you  naughty  child." 

"  I  won't.    Ich  bin  nicht  schdfrich." 

"  You  won't  Then  I'll  give  you  the  best  spanking 
you  ever  had !  "  And  a  pair  of  delicate  finger-ringed 
hands  would  be  laid  upon  the  rebel,  did  he  not  dodge 
with  the  wary  adroitness  of  constant  practice. 

"Grace!  Ayes  pitie  de  moil  Non!  Non!  pas  de 
pantoufle!"  he  whimpers!"  Let  up,  Auftrdren!  I'll 
be  good !  "  as  he  is  clutched  by  the  active  Japanese  and 
lifted  quite  tenderly  in  his  arms. 

"  Let  me  assist  you,  Mrs.  Elton,"  remarks  the  young 
officer  quietly.  "  By  reason  I  think  I  can  persuade 
this  little  gentleman  to  go  to  bed.  Japan  is  a  practical 
refutation  of  the  wisdom  of  Solomon.  No  child  is  ever 
punished  by  blows.  A  boy  of  five,  and  yours  looks 
seven,  is  perfectly  susceptible  of  argument  if  properly 
applied." 

"  You  don't  whip  kids  in  Japan  ?  "  gasps  Joel. 

"  Never !  and  such  a  thing  as  disobedience  to  par- 
ents is  absolutely  unknown." 

"  Well  by  the  Lord  Harry,  I  hope  you'll  make  it 
work!  You  have  a  lovely  subject  to  try  it  on,"  jeers 
the  American. 

With  a  muttered :  "  Thank  you !  "  Flora  follows  the 
young  officer  carrying  her  offspring.  Whereupon  this 
imp  brings  confusion  upon  both  by  saying:  "I 
like  you  Jap,  because  you're  not  like  the  rest  of  the 
chaps  about  meinc  uebe  Mutter,  dead  spooney.  You're 

too  dead  gone  on Osuri's  soothing  hand  seems 

to  close  on  Harold's  mouth,  obliterating  the  rest  of  this 
remark. 

This  is  fortunate,  for  hearing  the  commotion,  Miss 


50  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Boardman  has  stepped  from  her  bedroom  into  the  cor- 
ridor. Watching  Katsuma's  kind  methods  to  the  urch- 
in, she  thinks  reproachfully :  "  It  is  a  noble  heart  to 
whom  I  shall  bring  sorrow  this  evening,"  and  comes 
sadly  but  determinedly  into  her  father's  parlor. 

A  few  minutes  after,  Osuri  returns  followed  by 
the  widow,  who  is  murmuring:  "Isn't  it  wonderful! 
You  must  have  hypnotized  my  little  treasure.  He  al- 
way  fights  Lizette  and  kicks  his  ayah's  shins  when  they 
try  to  put  him  to  bed." 

Into  this  Miss  Eira  breaks,  saying,  with  an  archness 
that  is  all  too  charming :  "  Won't  you  say  good  evening 
to  me,  and  let  me  thank  you  for  your  lovely  flowers, 
Captain  Katsuma  ?  " 

"  Will  not  I  ?  "  The  young  man  turns  to  her,  clasps 
her  proffered  hand,  and  murmurs  "  Hime!"  then 
pauses,  the  beauty  of  his  deity  seeming  to  take  away 
his  breath. 

For  Eira  Boardman,  robed  for  festival  this  tropic 
night,  looks  to  the  Japanese  almost  too  lovely  to  be  one 
of  Earth's  daughters.  The  white  gauze  of  her  corsage 
is  not  as  snowy  as  the  perfectly  moulded  arms  that 
leave  its  laces.  The  satin  of  her  girdle  is  not  as  glisten- 
ing as  the  chiseled  shoulders  that  gleam  ivory-like  from 
the  tissues  that  float  about  and  drape  yet  scarce  conceal 
outlines  of  perfect  grace  yet  exquisite  development.  To 
the  ardent  eyes  of  the  young  officer  she  looks  spirit- 
like,  save  when  under  his  inspection  blushes  give  her 
cheeks  the  rosy  tints  of  embarrassed  womanhood. 

While  the  Japanese  has  been  chatting  with  Miss 
Boardman,  her  father  has  taken  opportunity  to  say  a 
few  confidential  words  to  his  pretty  niece.  "  At  Mrs. 
Murray's  I  advise  you,  my  dear  Flora,"  whispers  the 
old  business  man,  "  not  to  permit  such  absolute  monop- 
oly as  young  Passmere  seems  to  assume  over  you." 

"Indeed!  why  not?"  answers  the  widow  icily, 
though  her  face  shows  agitation. 

"  You  see  we  know  so  little  about  the  gentleman  ex- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  $1 

cept  that  he  is  called  the  "  Honorable."  Neither  do 
people  of  whom  I  have  inquired  casually  in  Hong 
Kong." 

"  Of  course,  they  don't,"  replies  Mrs.  Elton  airily. 
"  But  /  do !  That's  sufficient  for  me,  my  dear  uncle. 
Astute  diplomatists  don't  go  about  carrying  banners 
bearing  their  missions." 

"  Crackey,  the  Honorable  Arthur's  a  diplomatist,  is 
he?" 

"  He  is!  "  returns  Hora  caustically.  Then  she  sud- 
denly asks :  "  You  haven't  heard  anything  to  his  dis- 
credit, have  you  ?  " 

"  No ;  I've  heard  nothing." 

"  Well,  if  there's  no  gossip  about  a  man  in  Hong 
Kong,  you  can  be  sure  that  he's  above  reproach.  Be- 
sides," here  she  laughs  a  little,  "  you  know,  my  dear 
uncle,  I  always  flirt." 

"  Hum,  yes,"  returns  Joel  gazing  at  the  beautiful 
woman.  "  Only  be  careful  you  don't  singe  those  but- 
terfly wings."  Then  feeling  the  truth  of  Mrs.  Elton's 
last  remarks  both  as  regards  herself  and  Colonial  so- 
ciety, her  uncle  adds  briskly :  "  Come  on  girls !  Cap- 
tain Katsuma,  would  you  kindly  give  your  arm  to 
Eira."  And  the  gallant  Japanese  is  delighted  to  have 
the  prettiest  hand  in  Hong  Kong  placed  upon  the 
sleeve  of  his  dress  coat. 

Twenty  minutes  after,  the  four  are  at  Mrs.  Murray's 
brilliantly  lighted  villa  that  sits  embowered  in  gardens 
on  the  Kennedy  Road.  Illuminated  by  various  colored 
lanterns,  the  tropical  foliage  of  the  grounds  make  it  a 
fairy-land.  It  is  peopled  by  beautiful  women  exquis- 
itely arrayed,  and  gallant  men  decked  in  the  brilliant 
uniforms  of  the  officers  of  the  Hong  Kong  garrison 
and  the  vessels  of  war  in  the  harbor  both  English  and 
foreign,  the  officers  from  one  or  two  of  Uncle  Sam's 
warships  being  well  en  evidence.  But  few  black 
coats  leaven  the  martial  assembly,  most  of  them  being 
worn  by  the  big  guns  of  the  Hong  Kong  banks  and 


Eastern  magnates  of  great  commercial  status.  Among 
these  men  of  mufti,  Katsuma's  bearing  is  so  languidly 
martial  that  Cooke  of  the  East  Anglias  remarks  to 
Plunket  of  the  Garrison  artillery :  "  By  Goliath,  that 
Japanese  captain  looks  as  languidly  aristocratic  as  if  he 
were  a  swell  of  the  Household  Brigade  enduring  a  ball 
in  Belgravia.  Too  awfuly  bored  to  live !  " 

"  Yer  not  a  bit  right, 'old  man,"  returns  Plunkett,  "  I 
saw  him  looking  at  that  American  girl  in  white,  the 
one  who  has  the  bearing  of  a  duchess.  Then  Katsuma 
of  the  First  Tokios  had  the  face  of  a  military  poet,  if 
you  understand  that  sort  of  thing." 

Both  garrison  officers  are  probably  correct,  for  Cap- 
tain Katsuma  with  the  exception  of  a  dance  pro  forma 
with  Flora  Elton,  and  the  few  words  that  politeness 
compels  him  to  render  his  hostess,  does  very  little  so- 
cially this  evening  except  gaze  upon  the  American  girl 
in  white.  The  throng  in  its  general  happiness,  hilarity 
and  excitement  over  rumored  British  victory,  seems 
quite  apart  from  the  handsome  young  Japanese.  Fine 
ladies  look  at  him  in  vain.  Pretty  ones  who  should  at- 
tract him,  scarce  get  his  notice. 

Immediately  after  the  party  have  greeted  their  hos- 
tess, who  is  the  wife  of  the  Eastern  representative  of 
one  of  the  great  Anglo-Chinese  mercantile  companies, 
Mr.  Boardman  has  strolled  to  the  delights  of  whist; 
and  Mrs.  Elton  has  been  seized  upon  by  Mr.  Passmere. 

This  astute  young  gallant,  as  Flora  in  a  half  fright- 
ened way  expresses  it  to  herself,  "  treats  her  as  if  he 
thought  her  very  soul  was  his  own."  Apparently  this 
is  not  displeasing  to  her,  as  she  permits  him  to  monopo- 
lize her  during  a  good  deal  of  the  evening  to  the  dis- 
gust of  some  commercial  gentlemen  and  many  admir- 
ing military  swains. 

Then  perhaps  thinking  she  has  given  the  Honorable 
Arthur  play  enough,  a  certain  innate  coquettry  fos- 
tered by  having  been  an  old  man's  darling  and  entirely 
her  own  mistress  for  several  years  on  the  Continent, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  53 

enters  the  dashing  widow  and  she  enrages  the  admir- 
ing adventurer  by  some  quite  pronounced  flirtations 
with  Mr.  Gaddin  of  the  Oriental  Bank  and  the  stal- 
wartly  martial  Major  Tilford,  a  dashing  officer  of  one 
of  the  garrison  regiments ;  throwing  in  for  good 

•  weight,  as  it  were,  young  Colchester  of  the  First  Pun- 
jabs  and  Burrows  of  the  Garrison  Artillery.    All  these 
gallants  are  very  anxious  for  the  lovely  lady's  favor, 
for  Mrs.  'Elton  looks  very  prettily  young  and  grace- 
fully piquant  in  a  most  magnificent  costume  by  Felix ; 
and  the  wealth  of  the  American  widow  is  such  that  it 
has  been  quite  often  mentioned  at  the  Hong  Kong  and 
Germania  Clubs  and  in  the  mess-halls  of  the  various 
regiments  of  Her  Majesty.    So  during  a  couple  of  co- 
quettish hours,  Flora  has  the  pleasure  of  tormenting 
this  gentleman  who  has  among  other  good  qualities  a 
nasty  jealousy  in  his  disposition,  by  the  bright  glances 
and  whispered  words  she  gives  his  rivals. 

As  Mr.  Romeo  Scalawag  sits  grimly  looking  on  with 
a  mind  not  altogether  above  revenge — he  learns  that  to 
be  successful  he  must  act  quickly.  The  Chinese  high 
commissioner,  Li  Wong  Chieun,  in  garments  of  state, 
attended  by  his  secretary  and  several  interpreters  and 
underlings,  passes  through  Mrs.  Murray's  brilliantly 
lighted  room. 

As  usual  in  Anglo-Saxon  gatherings,  these  Chinese 
officials  seem  the  most  retiring  and  modest  of  human- 
ity. Their  smile  is  deprecating ;  their  gestures  affable, 
even  humble ;  so  is  Li  Wong  Chieun's. 

Inspecting  him,  a  grimly  quizzical  look  runs  over  the 
young  adventurer's  countenance.  Eira  Boardman, 
anxious  probably  to  further  her  father's  contracts,  with 
the  unaffected  demeanor  of  American  young  ladies, 
which  is  so  often  misunderstood  in  foreign  countries, 
steps  affably  to  this  great  man,  and  giving  him  a  pretty 
bow,  says  in  her  best  pidgin  English :  "  Goodie 
evening." 

•  As  the  Chinese  official  greets  her  ethereal  loveliness, 


54  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

an  expression  flies  over  his  sleepy  Oriental  features 
like  unto  that  Katsuma  had  caught  this  afternoon,  and 
Mr.  Passmere  is  certain  of  a  secret  he  had  before  sus- 
pected. 

A  moment  later  he  guesses  that  it  may  defeat  his 
meshing  of  a  woman  he  had  thought  almost  within  his 
net. 

Li  Wong  Chieun's  secretary  is  bowing  before  him 
and  whispering  in  Mandarin  Chinese :  "  His  Excel- 
lency, the  commissioner-high,  would  have  a  word  with 
you,  chief  of  opium  smugglers.  His  Greatness  of  the 
•yellow  jacket  and  peacock  feathers  gives  you  the  honor 
of  audience  in  the  garden.  Go  on  your  knees  to  him." 

"  Go  on  my  knees  to  him?  Not  by  r.  thousand  josh- 
sticks  ! "  jeers  Mr.  Passmere  in  the  flowery  dialect  of 
the  East.  "  Present  my  humble  abaisances  to  the 
Chinese-commissioner-high  and  tell  him  that  I  don't 
give  a  spit  of  the  dragon  for  him,  here  in  Hong  Kong. 
After  you've  told  him  that,  I'll  walk  out  to  see  him." 

Eastern  experience  tells  the  Honorable  Arthur  that 
probably  the  affair  is  serious,  but  furthermore  it  also 
tells  him  the  only  way  to  meet  it  is  by  a  show  of  abso- 
lute indifference  or  arrogant  defiance.  Therefore 
leaving  the  brilliant  crowd  in  the  ballroom,  he  steps 
out  into  the  more  faintly  illuminated  gardens  to  indulge 
in  a  game  of  Oriental  bluff  with  the  Chinese-commis- 
sioner-high. 

Approaching  that  official,  the  chevalier  d' Industrie 
is  assured  that  the  interview  is  important  as  he  notes 
the  secretary  and  Chinese  attendants  strolling  cau- 
tiously through  surrounding  shrubberies  to  prevent  all 
danger  of  eavesdroppers  though  just  at  present  there 
is  comparatively  little  chance  of  these  as  the  entertain- 
ment in  the  house  is  at  its  height. 

Li  Wong  Chieun  is  seated  under  a  bastard  banyan 
tree  in  a  position  which  ( gives  him  a  view  of  the  ball- 
room, all  of  whose  windows  are  thrown  open  this  sul- 
try night.  Dispensing  with  abaisance  by  an  august 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  5$ 

wave  of  the  hand,  the  dignitary  says  in  Chinese  to  Mr. 
Passmere:  "I  commanded  you  to  come  to  me  so  that 
I  might  tell  you  that  you  were  recognized."  The  pitch 
of  his  voice  is  so  low  that  the  astute  adventurer  knows 
Chieun  does  not  care  to  make  his  status  public  just  for 
the  present. 

"  I  have  been  aware  of  that  ever  since  your  excel- 
lency blinked  twice  at  me  this  afternoon,"  answers  the 
young  man  coolly. 

"  Then  you  did  not  fear  ?  " 

"  Not  you,  commissioner  of  the  war  office  high !  " 

"  I  have  but  to  whisper  your  rascalities  in  opium 
which  stunk  the  air  at  Wenchoo,  and  these  English 
will  drive  you  out  of  their  high  society  ranks  as  they 
did  at  Chefoo." 

"  Pish,  your  excellency,  every  other  man  in  Hong 
Kong  is  an  opium  smuggler  or  the  descendant  of  one," 
jeers  the  youth. 

"  I  have  but  to  tell  that  you  are  the  son  of  an  un- 
known father;  that  you  were  expelled  from  your  mis- 
sion house  at  Tung-chow  as  one  too  criminal  for  even 
a  Foreign  Devil  mission;  that  your  name  is  not  the 

Honorable  Arthur "  He  beckons  his  secretary  to 

him,  and  after  consultation,  murmurs :  "  Ah  yes,  the 

Honorable  Arthur  Cochrane  Passmere,  but "  he 

looks  at  a  note,  "but  To-mas  Tra-cee,  who  once  kept 
a  retail  chow  store  at  Ningpoo;  and  that  beautiful 
woman  gazing  at  you  from  the  ballroom,  the  one  whose 
arms  are  white  as  lily  flowers,  whose  dress  is  blue  and 
feathery  as  peacocks'  tails,  whose  favor  you  seem  to 
woo,  will  never  ride  in  a  red  chair  for  you." 

Under  this  speech  the  adventurer  quivers.  Hong 
Kong  society  might  overlook  wholesale  opium  smug- 
gling ;  they  wouldn't  pardon  a  retail  chow  shop.  Then 
he  simply  counters  it  by  quietly  asking :  "  What  devil- 
try does  your  excellency  want  me  to  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Nothing.    What  can  such  as  you  do  for  me?  " 

"As  the  husband  of  that  woman  in  there,  who  is 


56  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Mr.  Boardman's  niece,  I  can  do  just  what  you  want 
most  in  the  world ;  and  she'll  be  my  wife  within  a  few 
days  if  your  excellency  withholds  any  expressions  as 
regards  my  previous  career." 

"  Ah ;  what  is  it  I  want  you  to  do  for  me  ?  "  mur- 
murs the  Chinaman,  his  sleepy  eyes  growing  blank. 

"  You  want  the  American  arms  manufacturer  to  go 
to  Peking.  I'll  send  him  there !  " 

The  Chinese  high  commissioner  blinks  his  eyes 
twice.  The  adventurer  is  whispering  now. 

"  You  want  the  million  and  odd  taels  which  you 
are  going  to  pay  Boardman  for  his  contracts  with  the 
Chinese  government;  but  you  must  have  the  Ameri- 
can's receipts  and  canceled  drafts  to  show  your  war 
board.  Therefore  he  must  go  with  you  to  Peking, 
where  after  he  gets  his  money  you  have  hopes  he  will 
be  easy  prey." 

The  Chinese  high  commissioner  blinks  three  times. 

"  If  I  know  the  American,  he  will  give  up  his  cash 
only  with  his  life.  But  you  want  more  than  his  money. 
Let  me  show  you  what  you  long  for  as  the  best  gift 
of  the  Genii." 

Passmere  pauses  a  moment.  The  band  is  playing 
Sousa's  "  Bride  Elect  March."  Through  the  open 
windows  of  the  ballroom  they  can  see  the  fair  young 
American  girl  passing  on  the  arm  of  an  English  officer. 
She  stays  her  light  steps  under  some  electric  lights, 
and  backed  by  the  green  of  graceful  palms,  seems  a 
being  too  beautiful  to  be  of  this  earth. 

The  eyes  of  the  mandarin  suddenly  expand  and  be- 
come iridescent  coals  of  fire  like  those  of  night  prowl- 
ing serpents.  He  utters  two  quick,  sharp,  strident 
monkey  notes  of  passion. 

"That's  what  you  want,  Mr.  Chinese-commissioner- 
high,"  sneers  the  adventurer.  "  Will  your  excellency 
keep  the  tongue  of  silent  wisdom.  Shall  I  send  Eira 
Boardman  with  her  father  to  Peking;  or ?" 

"  My  tongue  is  a  wise  tongue,  my  far-seeing  young 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  ,  57 

man,"  mutters  Li  Wong  Chieun,  his  voice  thick  with 
some  unholy  ecstasy. 

"  Very  well,  your  excellency,  I'll  tell  you  the  further 

price  of "     Mr.   Passmere  smiles  and  waves  his 

hand  towards  the  American  beauty.  Then  remember- 
ing Miss  Boardman's  indignation  this  afternoon  at  the 
Cantonese  girl  sold  for  two  pigs,  six  hens,  etc.,  he 
bursts  into  a  merry  guffaw. 

With  this  the  Honorable  Arthur  coolly  lights  a  cigar 
and  strolls  off  to  see  what  has  become  of  Mrs.  Elton, 
leaving  the  Chinese-commissioner-high  in  what  is 
known  in  the  effete  West  as  a  brown  study. 

Perhaps  some  relics  of  a  conscience  destroyed  in  his 
ancestors  some  time  during  the  dark  ages  coming  into 
the  adventurer  of  the  East,  Mr.  Passmere  as  he  steps 
upon  the  broad  veranda,  looks  back  and  mutters  be- 
tween his  clenched  teeth :  "  You're  a  bigger  villain  than 
I  thought  you,  you  yellow-girdled  satyr,  and  I'm  a 
meaner  scoundrel  than  I  thought  myself,  but — 
His  eyes  catch  the  exquisite  loveliness  of  Mrs.  Elton 
— "  give  up  Flora  when  she's  in  my  grasp?  Not  for  the 
tea  crop !  " 

Yet  being  a  young  scoundrel  of  great  discernment  as 
to  feminine  foibles,  the  Honorable  Mr.  Passmere 
doesn't  pursue  his  flame.  Therefore  not  going  after 
Mrs.  Elton,  that  lady,  after  the  manner  of  her  sex,  quite 
shortly  comes  after  him. 

"Isn't  this  our  dance,  Mr.  Passmere?"  she  whis- 
pers as  she  passes  on  the  arm  of  the  florid-faced  Til- 
ford. 

"  Is  it?  Didn't  know  but  you'd  forgotten  it,"  replies 
the  astute  fellow,  warily  disguising  his  rage  under 
briskness.  "So  major,  with  your  permission!" 

As  Tilford  rather  reluctantly  surrenders  the  lady, 
Arthur  offers  his  arm.  A  moment  after  he  astounds  her 
by  whispering  into  the  delicate  ear  that  is  very  near 
him  now,  for  Mrs.  Elton's  fair  head  seems  somehow 
to  incline  towards  his  athletic  shoulder.  "Haven't  I 


58  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

told  you  Flora  I  would  permit  you  to  flirt  with  no  one 
— not  even  me,  by  Jove !  " 

"  Why,  I  was  never  spoken  to  so  before  in  my  life !  " 
says  the  widow  attempting  hauteur. 

"  Well,  you'll  be  spoken  to  so  pretty  often  from  now 
on,  for  don't  yer  know  you're  going  to  marry  me." 

The  lady  droops  her  head,  but  the  slight  hand  that 
is  resting  upon  her  escort's  black  sleeve  seems  to  cling 
to  it  more  tightly  as  the  youth  leads  Mrs.  Elton  into  the 
gardens. 

Here  finding  at  last  the  seclusion  of  a  retired  nook 
well  away  from  the  lights  and  under  a  wide-spreading 
banyan  tree,  he  says  very  quietly :  "  Sit  down ;  I'm  go- 
ing to  make  love  to  you  for  the  rest  of  the  evening !  " 

Miss  Boardman  has  also  scarce  turned  from  the  gaze 
of  her  Celestial  admirer,  when  she  is  surrounded  by  na- 
val officers  in  American  blue,  some  of  them  old  ac- 
quaintances. These  make  their  young  country  woman 
their  star  of  the  evening  and  would  monopolize  her  did 
she  not  turn  to  Katsuma  and  whisper :  "  What  dances 
do  you  wish  ?  "  Adding  archly :  "  Are  you  not  going  to 
exercise  an  escort's  privilege  ?  "  by  present  grace,  try- 
ing to  soften  future  austerity. 

"  Then  this  waltz !  "  says  the  captain,  selecting  one 
towards  the  end  of  the  programme  when  he  thinks  the 
crowd  will  have  diminished  and  he  can  better  find  op- 
portunity of  tcte-a-tctc. 

So  it  comes  to  pass  that  the  dancers  are  growing  less 
numerous  when  the  Japanese  officer  puts  his  arm  about 
the  tiny  waist  of  his  deity,  and  with  his  heart  wildly 
beating  against  hers,  trips  his  first  measure  with  Eira 
Boardman. 

To  him  in  all  his  after  life  this  dance  seems  like  a 
dream.  The  light  step  of  the  maid,  who  almost  floats 
in  his  arms,  appears  to  vibrate  with  the  melody.  The 
music  of  the  military  band  is  to  him  a  love  song;  one 
he  hesitates  to  stop ;  one  that  closes  all  too  soon. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  5<J 

As  they  finish,  Eira  exclaims :  "  Why,  your  step  is 
the  regular  West  Point  one." 

"  That  is  a  curious  guess  for  one  who  has  never  been 
a  West  Point  girl,"  he  returns  somewhat  astonished. 
"  But  you're  quite  right.  I've  led  the  german  in  the 
mess-hall  there  several  times."  Gazing  upon  her  deli- 
cate beauty,  it  is  to  him  ethereal  as  that  of  Sosanoo, 
the  moon  goddess,  he  whispers :  "  Who  could  not 
waltz  with  you?  "  then  sighs :  "  Still  it  may  be  my  last 
dance." 

"  Now  Captain  Katsuma,  I  shan't  let  you  talk  in  that 
way !  "  From  very  habit,  Eira's  voice  has  a  coquettish 
timbre,  for  which  she  half  loathes  herself. 

"  Come  with  me !  "  His  words  have  a  strange  com- 
mand to  which  Miss  Boardman  quietly  yields,  though 
her  face  is  pale;  for  she  has  nerved  herself  to  destroy 
the  hope  in  the  handsome  face,  whose  dark  eyes  at 
times  have  entreaty,  at  others  almost  possession.  No- 
ticing the  gracefully  martial  bearing  of  her  escort  as 
he  silently  leads  her  from  the  dancers,  she  thinks  any 
woman  might  be  proud  of  Katsuma  of  the  First  To- 
kios. 

They  pass  out  into  the  gardens,  which  are  cooler  then 
the  heated  ballroom,  though  this  night  every  place  is 
hot.  Many  of  the  guests  are  lingering  in  Mrs.  Mur- 
ray's hospitable  supper-room ;  they  are  quite  by  them- 
selves, though  Eira  notes  abstractedly  that  her  cousin 
is  enjoying  a  protracted  tcte-a-tcte  under  the  protec- 
tion of  some  remote  shrubbery  with  Mr.  Passmere. 

Then  the  manner  of  the  Japanese  drives  all  else  from 
the  mind  of  Eira  Boardman.  The  touch  of  his  hand  as 
he  leads  her  through  the  leafy  paths  awes  her.  The 
poetry  of  an  Oriental  and  the  honesty  of  a  Western 
passion  is  in  his  eyes  as  he  gazes  on  her,  for  this  is 
in  the  young  man's  mind :  "  Itagaki  Katsuma,  the  old 
daimio  gives  me  his  villa  on  the  Inland  Sea  where  she 
and  I  may  love  like  birds,  in  the  morning,  at  noonday — 


<5o  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

all  the  night.  I  shall  say  to  her  father:  "Give  your 
daughter  to  me.  She  comes  to  me  not  as  my  slave 
bride,  but  of  her  own  free  will,  by  her  own  love.  Eira, 
goddess  of  my  sunshine,  has  made  me  a  god ;  to  shine 
by  her  side." 

Therefore  the  fervid  eyes  of  the  Japanese  abash  and 
confuse,  the  object  of  his  love  dream  who  has  in  her 
bright  Anglo-Saxon  mind  quite  another  poem  of  pas- 
sion. 

Selecting  a  nook  to  which  some  palms  give  retire- 
ment, Osuri  whispers :  "  We  are  alone,"  and  would 
break  into  a  tale  of  passion  did  not  the  fair  daughter  of 
Yankeeland  paralyze  the  tongue  of  the  Eastern  lover. 

She  has  a  talisman  upon  her  throbbing  bosom  just 
under  the  laces  that  shade  its  marble  beauties.  She 
uses  it  in  time  to  stay  a  gallant  heart,  a  devoted  soul. 

Katsuma  is  bending  over  her,  so  near  that  the  ra- 
diance of  his  eyes  seems  to  burn  her.  These  say :  "  I 
can  now  speak  my  heart  to  you,  for  my  father's  bless- 
ing upon  my  love  has  come."  But  before  his  lips  can 
form  the  sentence  his  eyes  have  already  uttered,  his 
goddess  speaks. 

"  I  am  glad  we  are  alone,"  she  says,  "  so  I  can  tell 
you  my  secret." 

At  this  suggestion  the  face  of  Osuri  grows  troubled. 
He  knows  any  mystery  in  Eira  Boardman's  life  must 
pertain  to  some  one  else  than  he.  "  Your  secret !  "  he 
falters. 

"  Yes,"  she  murmurs.  Then  her  cheeks  grow  red 
with  bashful  modesty,  but  into  her  blue  eyes  flies  a 
light  the  Japanese  had  never  seen  before.  The  voice  of 
the  American  girl,  though  agitated  and  low,  is  fearless. 
"As  a  West  Pointer,  you  should  recognize  this.  You 
should  guess  what  it  means."  From  a  bosom  white 
as  sea-foam  and  throbbing  as  surf-waves,  she  draws  a 
heavy  gold  circlet  embellished  by  a  small  red  stone; 
on  one  side  of  which  is  an  American  flag  in  dull  metal, 


TANGLED  FLAC&  6t 

upon  the  other  a  sword  hilt.  "  Look  at  it ! "  She 
presses  the  bauble  into  his  astounded  hands,  and  whis- 
pers hoarsely :  "Compare  it  with  your  own." 

"  The  ring  of — of  my  West  Point  class !  "  the  Jap- 
anese stammers  bewildered.  Then  some  inkling  of  the 
truth  coming  to  him,  his  lips  grow  pale  as  ashes;  he 
mutters :  "  No  man  of  them  would  trust  this  to  a 
woman  unless  she  had  his  heart  of  hearts ! " 

"  You're  right !  "  answers  Miss  Boardman,  proudly. 
"  This  tells  my  story !  "  and  stands  affrighted,  gazing 
on  a  mighty  anguish,  a  great  reproach. 

The  blood  leaves  Katsuma's  face;  the  love-fire  dies 
in  the  eyes  that  are  gazing  into  hers.  He  turns  away 
his  head,  and  in  the  subdued  light  this  woman,  whom 
he  has  made  his  goddess  and  who  has  now  become  the 
priestess  who  sacrifices  him  upon  her  own  altar,  can 
see  his  sinewy  hands  twitch  helplessly,  yet  nervously; 
his  strong  limbs  seem  for  a  moment  so  palsied  that  they 
can  scarce  support  his  slight,  supple  body. 

By  mighty  effort  he  controls  himself,  "  With  your 
great  loveliness,  you  should  have  worn  this  openly. 
You  should  have  erected  the  beacon  of  danger,"  he 
says,  affecting,  for  a  moment,  lightness.  Then,  gazing 
on  the  airy  loveliness  that  seems  floating  from  him,  he 
asks,  an  awful  yearning  wistf ulness  in  his  tone :  "  Are 
you  this  man's  affianced  or  his  wife?" 

"  His  af— affianced." 

"  Not  his  wife,  by  Diakokn,  God  of  Fortune !  "  A 
hoarse  triumph  comes  into  his  voice.  The  love-light 
returns  to  his  eyes  more  dominant  and  possessive  than 
before.  The  passion  of  a  feudal  race  obliterates  mod- 
ern civilization,  and  Osuri  Katsuma  has  the  look  of  a 
two-sworded  samurai  when  love  and  death  went  hand 
in  hand  in  old  Japan. 

Gazing  upon  him,  Eira  Boardman's  face  loses  its 
blush  and  becomes  pallid  also.  She  realizes  she  has 
kindled  an  Eastern  fire  she  cannot  quench,  and  that 


62  f  ANGLED  FLAGS. 

this  fire  is  dangerous,  not  to  herself,  but  to  another. 
For  though  the  Japanese's  manner  is  as  polished  as 
that  of  the  old  regime — it  is  as  deadly.  His  eyes  seem 
to  say  to  her:  "  I  yield  you  to  no  man  only  by  my 
death.  It  is  hara-kiri  for  me  or  death  to  the  man  you 
love." 

At  this,  in  a  kind  of  desperate  tact,  the  young  lady 
falters :  "  I  have  but  one  excuse  for  telling  you  this 
secret  I  have  kept  from  all  men,  even  my  father.  He 
regards  with  disfavor  the  man  I  love.  I  need  your 
aid.  Our  engagement  is  secret.  Jim  is  poor." 

"Jim!  God  of  bad  luck,  of  whom  do  you  speak? 
Quick !  Let  me  look  upon  that  ring !  "  whispers  the 
captain,  despair  again  getting  into  his  voice. 

"  James  Burton  Ingraham,  whom  you  have  called 
to  me  your  class  chum,  your  friend  of  friends." 

"No,  no;  Izanagi,  not  him!"  gasps  Katsuma. 
Then  his  anguished  eyes,  catching  the  initials  upon  the 
ring,  he  murmurs :  "  By  Ema,  you're  right !  At  West 
Point  I  placed  this  upon  the  finger  of  the  man  I  love 
and — and  you  love;  and  wished  him  joy  and  happi- 
ness, as  he  did  mine  upon  this  hand,  when  we  prom- 
ised through  all  this  life  to  be  brothers." 

"  As  such  I  speak  to  you.  I  wish  you  to  send  a 
cable  to  Mr.  Ingraham,  in  America,  one  I  could  not 
despatch  myself,  telling  him  to  what  address  he  must 
send  further  letters,  as  none  have  reached  me,  and  I 
dare  not  mention  his  name  to  my  father." 

Then  to  Eira  Boardman  comes  some  small  portion 
of  this  Islander's  soul — the  greater  part  came  after- 
ward, at  other  and  more  awful  place. 

"  Ah,  goddess  of  my  friend's  life,  I  am  glad  you 
have  trusted  me,"  he  murmurs,"  generously.  "  I  can 
tell  your  father  that  Jim  Ingraham  has  a  heart  worth 
more  than  his  money-bags — though  no  one  is  worthy 
of  you."  Then,  bowing  with  military  grace  before 
this  woman  who  has  given  him  despair,  he  adds, 
simply :  "  Thank  you,  Miss  Boardman,  for  having 


FLAC&  63 

prevented  me  committing  a  crime  against  the  man  of 
my  heart,  my  brother  in  arms.  That  I  pray  he  shall 
be  happy  in  your  beauty,  I  shall  tell  him  when  I  clasp 
his  hand  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow !    Impossible,  the  ocean  lies  between !  " 

"  To-morrow  he  comes  by  the  City  of  Rio  Janeiro/' 

"  Oh,  heavens  and  earth !  " 

"Do  you  not  know?  He  is  joining  his  new  regi- 
ment in  the  Philippines.  Haven't  you  heard  from 
him?" 

"  Not  for  some  months.  His  letters  have  gone 
astray,  or  are  following  me  from  one  port  to  another. 
I  feared  to  question  my  father."  Then  she  cries  in 
happy  yet  astounded  voice :  "  He  is  here  to-morrow — 
to-morrow — Jim  !  My  Jim !  " 

The  tender  longing  in  her  sweet  voice,  the  passionate 
rapture  of  her  bright  eyes  seem  to  destroy  the  heart 
of  Osuri  Katsuma.  He  mutters  to  himself:  "  At  last 
I  see  her  soul — but  it  is  not  for  me!  "  Like  every  joy 
of  life,  Eira  Boardman  is  more  beautiful — now  that  he 
has  lost  her.  He  turns  away  his  head  to  conceal  the 
torture  in  his  features. 

"  But  you  mustn't  tell  my  father,"  she  breaks  out, 
in  frightened  tones. 

"I tail  Do  you;  do  him  an  injury!  You  have 
seen  my  face,  but  do  not  know  me,"  says  the 
Japanese,  in  simple  pathos.  "  Jim  Ingraham  is  the 
noblest  fellow  since  the  age  of  Jimmu.  You  have  won 
him.  He  is  blessed  by  the  greatest  gift  the  gods  can 
give  him — your  love."  The  last  word  is  a  sigh  that 
faints  away.  The  young  officer  adds,  shortly :  "  To 
aid  your  happiness  shall  be  the  honor  of  Osuri 
Katsuma." 

"  God  bless  you !  "  cries  Eira,  impulsively,  and  would 
clasp  his  hand,  but  he  staggers  from  her  and  mur- 
murs, in  his  own  tongue :  "  Sayonara!  "  • 

So,  leaving  her,  he  strides  through  the  brilliantly 
illuminated  festal  gardens,  and  the  girl,  gazing  after 


64  f AttCLEE)  PLAG3. 

him,  wipes  a  tear  from  her  eye,  as  she  notes  that  he 
stumbles  as  if  the  lights  had  been  darkened  to  him. 
The  distant  band  is  playing  a  merry  air.  The  easy 
tones  of  light  love-making  come  to  her  in  Arthur  Pass- 
mere's  rather  triumphant  voice.  The  whole  place  seems 
a  modern  setting  to  medieval  tragedy.  "  Thank  God 
I  did  not  let  him  speak,"  sighs  Eira  Boardman,  but  in 
her  heart  she  knows  Osuri  Katsuma  has  loved  her. 

Then  her  exquisite  face  turns  to  the  harbor,  and  be- 
comes radiant  with  woman's  grandest  offering  to  man. 
She  murmurs:  "Jim!  My  Jim!  Here,  to-morrow!" 
and  radiant  passion  for  the  coming  lover  replaces  a 
contrite  sympathy  for  the  departing  officer  of  Dai- 
Nippon. 

Perchance  it  is  some  recollection  of  this  divine  glow 
upon  the  face  of  his  goddess  that  brings  his  anguish 
so  thoroughly  home  to  Osuri.  He  stands  upon  the 
terrace  of  the  Kennedy  Road,  gazing  at  the  lights  of 
the  sleeping  town  below  him  and  the  placid  harbor  in 
a  dazed  despair.  To  his  senses  this  woman' he  has  lost 
seems  as  tempting  as  if  she  were  the  fabled  Tatara  of 
his  mythology.  He  mutters :  "  God  of  Gods,  I  can- 
not yield  her  up !  The  spiritual  loveliness  of  her  mind 
shall  be  for  me ;  the  etheral  beauties  of  her  form  shall 
be  my  adoration  and  no  other  man's."  Then  he 
sighs :  "  Oh,  Isanagi,  God  of  Gods  !  Jim  Ingraham 
is  the  man  she  loves.  Against  any  other  I  could  fight 
for  her  and  die  for  her!  Against  the  comrade  of  my 
heart,  in  honor  I  am  powerless.  Fate  has  turned  her 
face  forever  from  me.  Had  it  been  all  the  world  but 
this  one  man,  my  darling  had  been  mine ! " 


BOOK  II. 

THE  ORIENTAL  ADVENTURER. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A    CRAFTY    WOOER. 

In  the  tropics,  day  is  at  its  best  at  earliest  morning 
before  the  all-conquering  sun  crushes  humanity  with 
its  resistless  heat.  High  enough  upon  the  hillsides  to 
catch  the  slight  airs  of  summer,  the  Botanical  Gar- 
dens of  Hong  Kong  look  down  upon  the  commercial 
town  and  harbor,  just  springing  into  life  quite  early 
on  the  morning  after  Mrs.  Murray's  fete.  Flower- 
ing orange  trees,  azalias,  rhododendrons,  magnolias, 
early  jasmine,  likewise  some  magnificent  roses,  give 
the  perfume  of  Paradise  to  the  air. 

Into  this  Eden  comes  an  Eve.  The  careful  delicacy 
of  her  toilette  indicates  she  expects  an  Adam.  For 
Mrs.  Elton  has  appointment  with  the  Honorable  Ar- 
thur Cochrane  Passmere. 

"  I  wonder  if  the  lazy  creature  will  wake  up  in  time," 
she  thinks,  anxiously,  as  she  gazes  about  the  leafy 
pathways  and  discovers  not  her  swain.  "  Here  is  the 
very  spot  he  mentioned.  Second  terrace,  fourth  path 
from  old  Kennedy's  Statue." 

Then  she  pouts :  "  Oh,  mercy,  if  he  shouldn't  come !  " 
and  disappointment  dims  the  brown  eyes  that  look 
fresh,  though  nervous,  after  late  return  from  Mrs. 
Murray's  and  three  sleepless  hours  passed  tossing  upon 
a  couch,  which,  though  dainty,  luxurious  and  soft,  is 


66  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

not  that  of  slumber.  For  Flora's  passion  has  been 
combating  with  her  love  of  liberty,  and  conquered  it. 

"  Young  men  are  so  dictatorial,"  she  half  shudders ; 
then  sighs :  "  But  I've  had  sway,  and  tired  of  it.  Poor 
old  Roderick  Elton  never  hesitated  at  doing  my  bid- 
ding, and  yet  I  grew  very  fatigued  at  his  senile  com- 
plaisance." For  her  dead  husband  had  been  a  man  of 
almost  three  times  the  age  of  the  beautiful  girl,  whose 
poverty  he  had  changed  to  wealth.  "  Besides,  Ar- 
thur is  so  deliciously  jealous!  How  cross  he  was  last 
night  about  that  Mr.  Gaddin,  of  the  Oriental  Bank,  and 
Major  Tilford,  of  the  West  Middlesex.  It  was 
beau — ti — ful !  The  more  savage  he  grew,  the  more 
I — I  adored  him !  "  Then  she  gasps :  "  Good  Heav- 
ens, I've  got  to  tell  him  about  Harold.  Won't  he  cut 
up  rough!  Of  course  I  didn't  have  my  boy  with  me 
at  St.  Ursula's;  so  his  sister  didn't  know,  and  can't 
have  written  to  him." 

Suddenly  she  springs  up,  with  a  little  cry  of  joy; 
then  forcing  herself  to  self-restraint  drapes  her  jupe 
just  sufficiently  to  indicate  that  her  feet  are  the  small- 
est European  ones  in  China,  and  trips  to  meet  her 
swain,  who,  this  morning,  looks  as  fresh-faced  and 
well-tubbed  a  young  dandy  as  any  in  the  Orient.  His 
powerful  and  sinewy  figure  is  arrayed  in  spotless  white 
flannels ;  his  gray  eyes  are  calm,  but  brilliant. 

Despite  himself — for  Mr.  Passmere's  knowledge  of 
women  tells  him  it  is  not  judicious  to  be  too  eager 
with  the  fair  sex — catching  the  beauty  of  the  lady 
awaiting  him,  the  young  man  quickens  his  long  strides. 
In  a  moment  he  is  beside  her.  Glancing  about  and 
discovering  that  they  are  in  retreat,  without  a  word 
he  takes  the  delicate  face  between  his  strong  hands, 
look  into  it  earnestly,  and  whispers :  "  By  Jove, 
Flora,  I'm  the  winning  horse,  ain't  I  ?  " 

"  Yes !  "  And  two  lips  as  dewy  as  the  flowers  by 
her  side  are  held  up  to  his  and  receive  salute,  the  cold 
steel  of  his  eyes  growing  brighter  with  his  caress. 


f  ANGLED  FLAGS.  67 

A  moment  later  he  is  seated  beside  the  lovely  widow 
and  whispering:  "Isn't  it  awfully  jolly,  yer  know. 
We're  so  dead  alone.  We  have  only  to  consult  our 
two  selves." 

"  Y — e — s,"  falters  Mrs.  Elton.  She  can't  bring  her- 
self to  immediate  acknowledgment  of  maternity. 

"  Do  you  know,"  goes  on  Mr.  Passmore  breezily, 
"  with  all  your  charm,  with  all  your  beauty,  a  widow's 
encumbrance  might  have  made  me  hesitate.  I  like  to 
begin  things  with  a  clean  slate,  don't  yer  see ! " 

"  Oh,  Arthur !  "  Flora  hides  a  blushing  face  upon 
his  shoulder,  and  her  swain  indulges  in  another  tender 
salute. 

But  just  in  the  middle  of  his  rapture  the  scalawag 
Romeo,  with  a  slight  cry  of  astonished  pain,  snarls : 
"  Good  Lord,  the  little  beggar's  pegged  me  in  the  leg !  " 

He  turns  hastily  about  and  is  confronted  by  a  sturdy 
urchin,  in  white  skirts  and  pantalets,  who  has  just  dis- 
charged a  pebble,  with  deft  accuracy,  and  is  now  re- 
garding him  with  savage  eyes.  In  childish  ferosity 
the  imp  cries:  "Miserable!  How  dare  you  kiss 
meine  Mutter!  Herr  Gott  im  Himmel,  I'll  do  you 
up!" 

He  would,  perchance,  make  additional  assault  upon 
the  astounded  Arthur,  did  not  Mrs.  Elton,  with  a  gasp 
of  dismay,  fly  at  her  offspring  and  shake  him  till  his 
teeth  chatter,  crying :  "  How  dare  you,  you  wretched 
child!  Harold,  don't  you  know  this  gentleman  is  to 
be  your  father?  " 

At  this  unexpected  information  the  Honorable  Ar- 
thur, rubbing  his  leg,  shudders  to  himself :  "  Jingo, 
this  is  a  rum  go!  By  the  Lord  Harry,  it's  the  poly- 
glot!" 

Anxious  to  stay  an  explanation  that  Flora  thinks 
should  take  place  far  from  the  open  ears  of  her  active 
offspring,  his  mother  would  drag  the  defender  of  her 
honor  towards  his  French  nurse  and  Indian  ayah,  who, 


68  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

though  not  in  sight,  are  doubtless  in  rapid  pursuit  of 
the  escaped. 

But  the  rebel  hangs  back,  kicking,  and  screams: 
"  Restez  tranquille!  I  want  to  see  ineine  neuer  Vater. 
You  said  the  next  one  would  be  a  lord,  and  six  feet 
high.  That  Major  Tilford  was  too " 

Forgetting  the  Japanese  method,  Flora  checks  this 
revelation  by  a  hurried  smack,  and  L  about  to  bear  the 
unconquered  Harold  to  his  attendants,  who,  she 
guesses,  must  be  somewhere  in  the  gardens. 

But  during  this  Arthur  has  put  his  quick  mind  upon 
the  subject.  For  one  moment  he  had  muttered,  in 
gloomy  contemplation :  "  I  wonder  if  I  can  swallow 
the  brat."  Appreciating  not  only  the  great  wealth  but 
also  the  exquisite  beauty  of  his  affianced,  for  Flora, 
with  her  face  pale  at  times  with  agitation,  at  others 
rosy  with  blushes,  makes  many  charming  pictures  as 
she  struggles  with  her  rebellious  offspring,  the  accom- 
plished scoundrel  determines  to  swallow  little  Harold 
Elton  with  a  gulp.  This  act  of  metaphorical  canna- 
balism  he  accomplishes  with  wondrous  sagacity — ex- 
acting from  the  mother  a  pretty  long  price  for  it. 

Laying  his  hand  firmly  upon  her  rounded  arm,  he 
says,  quietly :  "  Don't  take  the  beggar  away.  Let 
Harold  see  his  new  papa.  Supposing  you  find  his  nurses 
while  I  make  the  little  man's  acquaintance !" 

"  Oh,  thank  you  so  much,"  answers  the  lady,  grate- 
fully, and  kissing  Harold  rapturously,  flies  to  find 
nurse  and  ayah. 

"  Did  meine  Hebe  Mutter  kiss  me  because  I  pegged 
you?"  asks  the  child,  astonished  at  receiving  kisses 
after  smacks. 

This  is  greeted  by  a  hollow  laugh  from  Arthur,  who 
mutters :  "  Shouldn't  wonder !  You  can  never  tell 
about  women,  don't  yer  know,  my  little  fellow."  Then 
he  asks,  a  sudden  suspicion  in  his  voice :  "  You 
haven't  another  stone  in  your  other  hand?  For  Har- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  69 

old's  missile  had  struck  a  funny  bone,  which  is  still 
aching. 

"  Non,  monsieur,  c'est  une  lettre  dc  mainan.  It  was 
to  fill  with  earth  to  throw  upon  Lizette." 

"  A  letter  of  mama,"  mutters  Arthur,  and  catching 
the  address,  snarls  to  himself :  "  To  that  devil  Til- 
ford!  Impelled  by  an  unscrupulous  jealousy,  he 
hastily  glances  over  what  had  apparently  been  the  first 
draft  of  an  epistle  to  his  rival  accepting  his  escort  to 
a  Saiwan  picnic  given  by  some  military  gallants  this 
afternoon.  Then  a  savage  but  passionate  smile  flying 
over  his  features,  Mr.-  Arthur  Passmore  quietly  sug- 
gests :  "  Give  yer  half  a  sovereign,  my  little  man,  for 
this." 

"  Oh,  candy  money !  Merci  beaucoup!"  With  this 
the  little  Esau  sells  his  mother  into  bondage  for  enough 
bonbons  to  make  him  languid  for  a  week. 

And  Arthur  calling  him  a  "  sturdy  chap,"  the  two 
are  great  friends  when  Mrs.  Elton,  flying  back,  breath- 
lessly, ejaculates:  "The  nurse  and  ayah  are  in  the 
next  walk.  I'll  take  our  little  pet  to  them." 

"  But  don't  be  away  long."  He  puts  a  caress  in  his 
voice. 

"  Oh,  Arthur !    Of  course  not !  " 

Picking  up  Harold,  Flora  makes  graceful  exit  as 
she  bears  him  to  his  attendants. 

But  her  offspring  out  of  her  hands,  the  miserable 
contretemps  strikes  the  mother  pale.  Tears  fly  into 
her  eyes ;  she  falters  to  herself :  "  Arthur  will  think — 
I'm  deceitful,  and — and  never  give  me  any — any  rope 
at  all."  With  this  in  her  mind  she  hurries  back  to 
find  she  has  guessed  very  accurately. 

During  Flora's  absence  the  Eastern  Machiavelli  has 
been  contemplating  the  situation.  "  Dash  it  all,  with 
this  kid,  that  Yankee  uncle  of  Flora  will,  in  his  beastly 
commercial  way,  be  sure  to  insist  on  settlements  and 
all  that  selfish  rot."  Suddenly  the  frown  changes  to  an 
acute  smile  on  his  clear-cut,  reflective  features ;  he  mut- 


70  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

ters :  "  This  letter !  By  Jove,  it  gives  me  the  whip 
hand." 

Gazing  at  the  exquisite  woman  coming  towards 
him  and,  noting  the  agitation  of  her  face  with  the 
peculiar  insight  to  feminine  minds  that  has  descended 
to  him  from  an  ancestral  procuress,  he  ejaculates  to 
himself:  "I  know  you,  my  minx!  Ardent  audacity 
and  arrogant  dominion  are  what  you'll  take  to  most 
kindly." 

Whereupon,  divining  that  this  woman,  who  loves 
him  has  a  mother's  heart  in  her  breast,  the  astute  scal- 
awag makes  no  reproaches  nor  complaints,  for  which 
Flora  flashes  on  him  a  grateful  glance ;  but  breaks  out 
in  adroit  flattery  of  her  offspring:  "  Harold's  a  sturdy 
little  beggar,  don't  yer  know !  Plucky  as  the  deuce, 
can't  yer  see !  " 

"  Oh,  very !  "  assents  Mrs.  Elton,  eagerly.  "  Harold 
bit  his  ayah  twice  yesterday,  and  kicked  poor  Lizette's 
ankles  till  they  were  black  and  blue." 

This  panegyric  makes  the  coming  step-father 
chuckle,  he  chimes  in  breezily.  "  Yes ;  hit  me  a 
thundering  rap  on  the  shin,  can't  yer  see !  He's  very 
bright,  knowing  and  observing,  I  should  think  !  " 

"  So  should  I,"  laughs  the  delighted  Flora.  "  Some 
times  it  seems  to  me  as  if  the  little  darling  had  eyes  in 
the  very  back  of  his  head.  But  three  days  ago,  when 

Major" The  widow  stops  herself,  with  a  gasp, 

grows  red  as  a  peony  under  Arthur's  acutely  severe 
eyes,  and  stammers :  "  He's — he's  very  observing." 

"  Quite  so !  "  assents  her  swain.  "  Harold  and  I 
shall  be  great  friends." 

"  God  bless  you !  "  cries  his  fiancee.  "  You  don't 
know,  dear  Arthur,  how  happy  you  make  me ! " 

"  You  see,  I  rather  like  Harold,  don't  yer  under- 
stand !  "  interjects  the  young  man,  a  roguish  smile  ban- 
ishing the  frown  produced  by  the  lady's  embarrass- 
ment. "  Seems  to  me,  from  his  size  and  strength,  the 
little  man  ought  to  be  in  knickerbockers !  " 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  71 

"  Not  at  all,"  interrupts  Mrs.  Elton,  flurriedly. 
"  Harold  is  only  five.  Haven't  I  told  you  that  I  am 
not  quite  twenty-two.  I — I  was  married  at  sixteen. 
Of  course,  at  that  time  a  girl  hardly  knows  her  mind. 
She  mistakes  affection  for  love.  It  takes  a  slightly 
greater  maturity  to  make  her  understand  what  real  pas- 
sion is." 

"  Suppose  you  show  me,"  says  the  Romeo  adven- 
turer, adding  caustically,  "  remembering  that  I've 
waived  more  for  you  than  I  would  for  any  other 
woman,  my  dear  Flora." 

With  this  commences  a  very  easy  love  dream  for 
Arthur.  For  Mrs.  Elton  now  feels  she  should  surren- 
der upon  her  generous  suitor's  terms.  She  murmurs : 
"  I  thought  it  all  over  last  night.  I  have  concluded  to 
do  everything  that  you  ask  me,  darling !  " 

"  Quite  right ;  you're  only  twenty-one,"  observes 
Arthur,  to  whom  the  sturdy  Harold  has  given  suspicion 
of  his  mother's  greater  maturity,  though  Mrs.  Elton, 
as  she  sits  beside  him  in  her  exquisite,  yet  magnificent 
loveliness,  looks  scarce  the  age  she  has  given  to  her- 
self. Of  this  he  takes  crafty  advantage.  "  You  see, 
I'm  so  much  older  than  you,"  he  remarks.  "  I'm 
twenty-six,  if  I'm  a  minute,  don't  yer  see !  There- 
fore, much  better  fitted  to  guide  you,  Flora." 

"  Yes,  dear."  The  widow  doesn't  dare  to  contradict 
him  on  the  age  question. 

"  Then  I'll  tell  yer !  "  Under  this  crafty  wooer's 
words  Mrs.  Elton  discovers  that  she  is  loved  very  jeal- 
ously; yet,  flattered  by  imagining  that  it  is  her  pretty 
self  he  is  determined  to  keep  very  close  watch  and 
ward  upon — and  not  her  money — Flora  listens  very 
meekly  to  words  which  seem  to  enslave  as  well  as 
win  her. 

Looking  at  the  radiant  yet  fluttering  beauty  of  his 
prize,  he  murmurs :  "  You're  so  precious,  I  feel  almost 
like  keeping  you  under  lock  and  key  when  men  are 
about." 


7  a  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  Oh,  do  you  love  me  so  much  as  that ! "  cries  his 
affianced,  radiantly,  and  gives  her  subtle  swain  a  very 
tender  kiss. 

Judging  now  that  he  has  laid  the  foundation  for  an 
exceedingly  startling  proposition,  Mr.  Passmere  re- 
marks, imposingly :  "  Now,  listen  to  me !  "  and  his 
affianced  grows  proud  at  the  assumed  diplomatic  im- 
portance of  her  coming  spouse  as  he  continues :  "  I've 
got  to  go  to  Peking  at  once.  Our  minister,  Sir  Claude 
Macdonald,  wants  me  to  help  him  bully  the  Dowager 
Empress  and  keep  the  T sun g-li-Y amen  in  order,  yer 
understand !  Sir  Claude  telegraphs  he  needs  me  in- 
stantly, and  I  wouldn't  dare  leave  such  as  you  behind." 

"  That's  an  awful  insinuation,"  whispers  the  lady, 
archly,  though  she  droops  her  eyes. 

"  It's  an  insinuation,  my  dear  girl,  that  you're  the 
most  fetching  thing  this  side  of  London,"  answers 
young  Machiavelli. 

At  this  compliment  the  widow  becomes  as  wax  under 
the  flame  as  he  makes  arrangements  for  coming  nup- 
tials. "  I  had  intended  to  give  you  two  days  to  get 
ready  for  our  wedding,"  he  says,  reflectively. 

"Two  days!"  ejaculates  Mrs.  Elton.  "That's— 
that's  awfully  short,  dear." 

"  But  now — "  The  passion  in  the  gentleman's  voice, 
from  being  placid,  becomes  impetuous,  fiery,  reproach- 
ful— "  but  now  you  marry  me  within  the  hour !  " 

"  Within  the  hour !    Oh,  what  makes  you  so  ardent?  " 

"  My  misery !  This  letter !  "  Arthur  holds  up, 
gloomily,  the  condemning  record. 

"  Oh,  mercy,  my  note  to  the  major !  "  The  accused's 
face  grows  red  as  a  peony. 

"  So  you  confess !  " 

"Yes,  I — I  wrote  it,"  she  whispers,  in  embarrassed 
humiliation. 

"  And  you  were  willing  to  indulge  in  a  flirtation  with 
the  man  I  warned  you  against  after  your  promise  to 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  73 

me  last  night,"  says  Arthur,  in  condemning  voice. 
"  That  you  were  secretive  about  your  son  was,  perhaps, 
natural,  but  this  deceit  indicates  that  it  is  for  my  best 
happiness,  for  yours,  that  we  be  married  at  once.  Then, 
with  a  husband's  authority,  I  can  guide  you,  who  are, 
apparently  too  young,  too  innocent,  to  take  proper  care 
of  yourself." 

"  If  you  tell  me  to,  I'll  write  and  decline  his  invita- 
tion at  once !  "  cries  the  widow ;  her  beautiful  face  is 
penitent  and  imploring. 

"  What !  You  want  to  write  the  beast  another  let- 
ter!" 

"  Arthur,  you  shall  believe  me ;  you  must  for- 
give me !  " 

"  I'll  do  both  when  you  prove  you  love  me,  as  un- 
selfishly as  I  do  you,  by  going  instantly  with  me  to  the 
minister  and  promising  to  love,  honor  and  obey  me  all 
your  life.  Without  this  we  part!"  The  jealous  one 
rising,  looks  as  stern  as  Draco  to  his  penitent  fiancee. 

"  Instantly !  Oh,  let  me  tell  my  friends !  "  Flora's 
bright  eyes  grow  frightened,  she  begins  to  cry. 

"  And  keep  me  in  the  jealous  despair  of  the  last  few 
minutes?  Not  for  the  Prince  of  Wales!  I  couldn't 
bear  that  agony  again !  "  snarls  Arthur  savagely,  who 
knows  to  be  successful  he  must,  as  he  expresses  it, 
"  rush  things."  To  this  he  adds,  in  moody  malevo- 
lence :  "  I  felt  as  if  I  could  murder  you — murder 
him ! " 

"  My  Heaven,  do  you  love  me  so  passionately  as 
that?" 

"  Love  you !  By  the  living  jingo,  you'll  never  know 
how  much  I  love  you  until  I  marry  you.  And  that 
must  be  now!" 

"  Now !  "    Blushes  burn  up  the  lady's  tears. 

"Or  NEVER!" 

"  Oh,  Heaven !    At  least  let  me  tell  my  uncle." 
"  No,  no !    You  look  on  no  other  man's  face  until 


74  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

you're  mine.  You're  too  lovely  and  too  coquettish  to 
trust  out  of  my  sight."  The  morose  gloominess  of  his 
devotion  touches  Mrs.  Elton. 

"  How  ardent  you  are !  Dear  one,  forgive  me."  She 
tries  to  nestle  to  him. 

"  Now,  if  you  love  me,  come  with  me ! "  The 
schemer  takes  her  trembling  arm  in  his  grasp,  raises 
her  from  the  seat  and  hurries  her  towards  one  of  the 
entrances  of  the  garden. 

"  But  I  must  tell  Mr.  Boardman. ' 

"  Tell  him  afterwards !  " 

"  I — I  haven't  any  trosseau !  " 

"  Get  it  afterwards !  " 

These  are  hurried  ejaculations  and  stern  replies  as 
he  half  supports  his  affianced  through  the  leafy  walks 
to  the  tram-way.  Fortunately,  at  its  terminus,  he  has 
his  Peking  carriage  in  waiting.  This  now  becomes  a 
bridal  equipage. 

"  Give  me  a  little  time,"  Flora  gasps,  her  eyes  droop- 
ing, her  parasol  trembling  in  her  hands,  as  he  hur- 
riedly makes  the  vehicle  a  closed  one. 

"  Not  a  moment  until  you  prove  that  you  love  me !  " 

Machiavelli  fairly  lifts  her  into  the  carriage. 
"  Wyndham  Street,  like  a  flash !  "  he  cries  to  the  driver 
and  steps  in  beside  his  sweetheart  and  his  victim,  who 
is  hiding  an  agitated  and  abashed  face  in  both  of  her 
trembling  hands. 

"  Please — please  pardon  me,"  she  pleads,  "  before 
you  marry  me.  I'll  do  anything  you  say;  only  kiss 
me  and  forgive  me." 

Then  this  scoundrel  Draco  becomes  half  appeased. 
He  draws  down  the  blinds  and  takes  the  flirtatious  one 
to  his  heart  and  kisses  her  rapturously.  He  cannot 
help  that,  the  loveliness  of  his  petitioner  is  too  great,  the 
rounded  arms  she  throws  about  him  too  tender  in  their 
embrace.  But  forcing  himself  to  coolness,  this  domi- 
nant villain  and  lover  continues,  sternly :  "  Remember, 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  75 

I'll  never  ivholly  forgive  you  until  I  have  put  the  wed- 
ding ring  upon  your  finger  and  you've  placed  bride's 
kisses  upon  my  lips." 

"  Then — then  marry  me  instantly !  "  she  whispers, 
piteously.  "  Only  please  forgive  me  wholly  now," 
adding,  in  woman's  pathos,  "  I  couldn't  bear,  as  I 
promised  you  my  faith,  love  and  obedience,  to  think 
that  the  man  who  was  taking  me  to  his  heart  had  ought 
but  love  in  it  for  me." 

Moved  by  her  contrition  and  consent,  Arthur  whis- 
pers cheerfully  to  the  semi-abducted  lady :  "  Now  I'll 
get  you  to  the  minister  and  make  you  mine,  as  sure 
as  tacks !  " 

As  in  a  daze  Flora  finds  herself  driven  very  rapidly 
to  Wyndham  Street,  but  looks  on  in  loving  confidence 
as  Mr.  Passmere  gaining  word  with  an  acquaintance 
in  one  of  the  big  banks,  brings  out  his  friend  and  in- 
troduces him  as  Mr.  Colville;  and  the  two  make  all 
necessary  preparations. 

"  Here's  the  engagement  ring,"  whispers  the  rapid 
wooer,  and  slips  a  diamond  circlet  upon  her  yielding 
finger.  The  wedding  ring  I've  got  in  my  pocket." 

"  Oh,  darling,  how  headlong  you  are !  " 

"  Who  wouldn't  be  headlong  when  he  looks  at 
you?" 

With  an  indistinct  notion  that  she  ought  to  tell  her 
uncle,  Mrs.  Elton  is  led  into  the  rectory  of  St.  John's, 
and  the  proper  license  being  ready,  becomes  Mrs.  Ar- 
thur Passmere  after  the  ritual  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
giving  herself  more  completely  to  the  dominion  of 
her  husband  than  she  imagines. 

There  has  been  a  curious  triumph,  as  well  as  pas- 
sion, in  the  young  man's  face  as  the  exquisite  woman 
has  made  her  vows  to  him  quite  tremblingly  and  very 
earnestly,  for  she  means  them  with  all  her  soul.  "  Mar- 
ried without  settlements ! "  reflects  the  ardent  but 
selfish  adventurer.  "  I'm  master  not  only  of  her  beauty 


76  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

but  of  her  wealth.  She'll  have  to  get  on  her  knees  to 
me  every  time  she  wants  a  new  bonnet." 

With  this  the  Honorable  Arthur's  bearing  is  so  proud 
that  his  bride,  mistaking  its  import,  looks  at  him  raptur- 
ously as  he  places  her  in  the  carriage.  Getting  in  after 
her,  he  remarks :  "  I've  made  every  arrangement, 
Flora.  I've  a  little  villa  over  at  Kau-lung,  where  we 
can  love  like  blazes.  We'll  leave  little  Harold  under 
the  guardianship  of  Lizette  and  the  ayah,  and  be  alone 
until  I  take  you  to  Peking." 

"  Yes,  dear." 

"  He's  an  awfully  fine  little  fellow,"  remarks  the 
groom  anxiously ;  "  but  for  a  day  or  two  my  pet,  we 
must  be  all  in  all  to  each  other." 

"  Oh,  Arthur,  how  you  enchant  me,"  murmurs  the 
bride,  and  snuggles  against  his  protecting  shoulder. 

Very  shortly  after,  ushered  by  the  bland  and  bowing 
Lum  Kee,  Mr.  Passmere  brings  Flora  into  Mr.  Board- 
man's  parlor,  at  the  Peak  Hotel,  and  she  very  proudly, 
yet  very  bashfully,  presents  her  husband  to  the  as- 
tounded Yankee. 

For  a  moment  Joel  cannot  believe  what  he  hears; 
then,  convinced  by  her  wedding  ring,  he  grumbles: 
"  Well,  you're  old  enough  Flora,  to  make  your  own 
bed  and  lie  in  it,  I  suppose.  Eira's  down  town  doing 
some  shopping,  I  believe,  so  she  can't  add  her  congrat- 
ulations at  your  sudden  nuptials.  Had  you  announced 
this  a  little  sooner,  I  should  have  had  great  pleasure  in 
sending  you  a  handsome  present,  my  dear.  As  it  is, 
my  sincere  hope  is  that  you  will  be  very,  very  happy. 
Doubtless  you  will."  He  looks  sharply  at  the  bride- 
groom and  grins :  "  Though  your  husband  isn't  an 
old  man,  he  seems  to  be  a  gentleman  who'll  take  mighty 
good  care  that  you  don't  make  a  fool  of  yourself  with 
anybody  but  him." 

"You've  hit  me  off  exactly,  Uncle  Joel,"  says  Ar- 
thur, in  unabashed  ease,  rather  pleased  at  the  sugges- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  77 

tion,  though  the  old  gentleman  gasps  at  his  new  title. 
"  We're  going  over  to  Kau-lung  for  a  little  wedding 
loneliness,  and  I'll  see  you  in  a  day  or  two,  before  I  take 
my  bride  up  to  our  Peking  legation." 

As  they  turn  to  leave,  the  American  business  man 
says  sharply :  "  Mrs.  Passmere !  " 

Unheeding,  the  bride  doesn't  answer  this. 

"  Mrs.  Passmere,  just  a  second !  "  Arthur  is  already 
outside  the  door. 

"  Oh,  you  mean — me !  "  gasps  Flora.  Returning  to 
her  uncle,  she  laughs :  "  That  is  my  name,  isn't  it  ? 
I'm  married  now,  ain't  I  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you'll  soon  find  you're  married,  I  reckon," 
mutters  Boardman,  grimly,  and  his  voice  grows  very 
serious :  "  In  your  widow's  eagerness  you've  given 
yourself  to  your  youn^  man  without  settlements.  Har- 
old's estate  is  perfectly  secure,  but,  as  you  very  well 
know,  every  stiver  of  your  own  personal  fortune  con- 
sists of  English  securities  and  investments  in  the 
British  Consuls  by  your  late  husband,  when  he  made 
that  pot  of  money  over  there  by  introducing  the  tele- 
phone system  into  the  United  Kingdom !  " 

"  Y — e — s."  The  niece's  voice  indicates  affright,  her 
uncle's  tone  is  so  impressive. 

"  Then  I  simply  tell  you  that,  under  English  law, 
your  entire  fortune  now  comes  absolutely  under  your 
husband's  control.  Without  Mr.  Passmere's  consent 
you  haven't  a  dollar  of  your  own  to  buy  a  ribbon." 

At  this  financial  revelation,  which,  in  Flora's  hur- 
ried nuptials  had  slipped  her  mind,  the  bride  grows 
suddenly  pale;  then  straightens  herself  up  and  says, 
quite  proudly,  like  a  good  wife,  as  she  intends  to  be: 
"  I  have  every  confidence  in  Arthur." 

"  Quite  right.  It's  best  that  you  should  have ;  for 
you  must  look  to  him  for  everything,"  returns  her 
uncle.  Thinking  of  the  passed  away  Elton,  whom 
Flora's  harmless  but  careless  coquetries  had  often  tor- 
mented, he  continues,  caustically :  "  You  had  an  old 


7  8  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

husband  last  time,  my  dear.  You'll  find  a  young  one 
much  more  exigent !  " 

"  I  prefer  a  young  husband !  "  answers  the  bride, 
pertly,  trying  to  show  she  has  no  fear,  though  in  truth 
her  financial  situation  startles  her.  She  thinks  of  the 
handsome,  authoritative  fellow,  whose  voice  sounds 
impatiently  through  the  door,  and  her  eyes  grow 
bright,  for  he  is  saying :  "Hurry  up,  my  dear  girl.  I'm 
longing  for  your  face." 

"  Don't  think  me  too  very  foolish,"  she  whispers, 
half  apologetically.  "  Give  this  for  me  to  Eira,"  and 
kissing  Joel  very  sweetly,  runs  away. 

As  her  little  feet  patter  distantly  on  the  polished 
floor,  her  uncle  growls  to  himself :  "Who  would  have 
guessed  Madam  Sly-puss  would  have  been  so  secretive 
in  her  love  affair.  God  be  thanked,  my  daughter  hasn't 
a  thought  she  doesn't  share  with  her  daddy.  Even 

that  damned  Lieutenant !  "  Another  oath  chokes 

the  doting  father. 

"  Now,  since  old  Boardman  is  notified,  we'll  just 
get  a  bite,"  says  Arthur,  cheerily,  to  his  prize,  as  she 
joins  him  in  the  hallway. 

"  It  will  be  our  first  tete-a-tete  meal,"  murmurs  the 
bride.  Her  voice  is  very  tender.  Despite  her  uncle's 
revelation,  there  is  a  rapture  in  Flora's  eyes.  Then 
she  suddenly  ejaculates:  "Ah,  how  do  you  do,  Cap- 
tain !  " 

The  young  Japanese  officer  is  passing  them,  ushered 
into  Mr.  Broadman's  parlor  by  the  kowtowing  Lum 
Kee.  He  returns  Mrs.  Passmere's  bow  with  the  defer- 
ential politenesss  peculiar  to  him,  and  passes  on,  a  pre- 
occupied melancholy  in  his  face. 

"  Good  Heavens,  how  badly  Katsuma  looks !  "  whis- 
pers Flora.  For  the  appearance  of  Osuri  startles  her. 

"  Yes,  frightfully  dissipated,  these  Eastern  chaps !  " 
remarks  Arthur.  "  Looks  as  if  he  had  been  out  on  a 
bat  all  night." 

"  Poor  Eira ;  she  should  be  warned.    Do  you  know, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  79 

I  think  she  is  interested  in  that  depraved  Japanese 
captain,"  observes  Flora  anxiously. 

"  Yes,  but  trot  along,  I'm  hungry,"  says  the  groom, 
eagerly.  "  I  rather  imagine  from  your  parlor  windows 
I  can  point  out  to  you  the  white  walls  of  my  villa  over 
at  Kau-lung,  where  I'm  going  to  show  you  that  you've 
never  been  loved  before." 

"Oh,  Arthur!" 

Blushing  tenderly  and  fluttering  radiantly,  the 
bride  follows  him  into  her  dainty  parlor,  where  a 
very  handsome  breakfast,  already  ordered,  awaits 
them,  and  where  this  lady  of  many  flirtations  is  going 
to  receive  the  lesson  of  her  life,  which  up  to  this  time 
has  been  generally  carelessly  frivolous,  though  at  times 
spasmodically,  aesthetically  religious. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   YELLOW   PLACARD. 

Osuri  Katsuma  does  not  deserve  young  Passmere's 
shallow  comment. 

After  staggering  from  Mrs.  Murray's  fete  the  night 
before,  though  he  had  a  draft  for  ten  thousand  yens 
in  his  pocket,  he  had  not  tried  to  forget  his  misery  by 
high  play,  of  which  he  could  get  plenty  at  the  Hong 
Kong  Club. 

Once  oppressed  by  the  fatalism  of  the  East,  he  had 
looked  longingly  at  the  waters  of  the  harbor  from  the 
sea  wall  of  the  Praya.  Once  he  had  muttered :  "  The 
fortune-tellers  always  said  my  fate  would  be  a  sad  one. 
Why  not  call  the  mountebanks  liars,  by  making  it  a 
merry  one?  One  woman  should  not  be  able  to  give 
me  more  joy  than — half  a  dozen.  I  am  an  Oriental ;  I 
should  have  an  Oriental's  tastes.  Even  then  I  would  be 
less  of  a  voluptuary  than  half  the  Europeans  who  teach 


So  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

us  lessons  in  debauchery  in  every  open  port  on  the 
China  seas."  But  a  higher  spirit  coming  into  him,  he 
had  shuddered :  "  No,  no !  Then,  Eira  would  think  I 
had  never  been  worthy  of  her.  I'll  show  my  lost  god- 
dess that  this  night  'twas  a  man  whose  eyes  looked 
love  upon  her." 

Fortunately,  no  active  young  man  of  the  modern 
world  has  much  time  for  despair.  An  incident  that 
surprises  him  now  arouses  him. 

As  if  seeking  to  divorce  himself  from  a  Western 
civilization  that  reminds  him  of  the  lost  charms  of  his 
American  divinity,  Osuri's  aimless  steps  seem  to  lead 
him  towards  the  Chinese  quarter,  whose  streets  are 
quite  silent  now,  for  Celestials  are  not  greatly  given  to 
going  about  at  night,  and  active  Sikh  policemen  in 
Hong  Kong  are  very  apt,  in  case  coolies  do  not  give 
very  good  reasons  for  nocturnal  wanderings,  to  inflict 
many  pains  upon  the  prowlers. 

The  door  of  an  opium  joint  opens  in  this  street  of 
silent  hongs  with  gilt-lettered  signs  and  closed  up 
chow  shops.  From  it  issues  a  Chinaman.  With  some 
surprise  Katsuma  recognizes  him  as  Boardman's  ser- 
vant, the  kowtowing  Lum  Kee. 

About  this  time  the  silence  of  the  night  is  broken  in 
upon  by  hilarious  Anglo-Saxon  shouts.  Little  Sammy 
Bandam  and  Johnny  Cootes,  of  the  Hong  Kong  Club, 
returning  from  Mrs.  Murray's  fete,  made  happy  by 
generous  wine,  are  indulging  in  a  riksha  race.  They 
have  picked  out  this  Tai-ping-shan  street  as  being  less 
liable  to  police  interruption.  Coming  rapidly  along, 
they  urge  their  sweating  coolies  by  promises  of  reward, 
and  half  drunken  threats,  to  greater  speed. 

Trying  to  escape  them,  Lum  Kee,  who  is  directly  be- 
fore the  coming  rikshas,  stumbles,  and  slipping  upon 
some  of  the  rubbish  common  to  all  Chinese  streets,  his 
white  padded  shoes  go  up  into  the  air  and  his  well- 
shaved  head  comes  down  upon  the  pavement.  The 
rikshas  keep  on  their  way,  little  Bandam,  who  is  lead- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  8l 

ing,  calling :  "  Double  my  bet,  Johnny,  that  I  beat  you 
to  the  Jubilee  statue !  " 

At  this  moment  a  Sikh  policeman,  attracted  by  the 
noise,  picks  up  the  Chinaman  and  is  about  to  drag  him 
to  the  calaboose.  But  Lum  Kee  has  only  been  partially 
stunned ;  and  as  he  is  picked  up  expostulates :  "  You 
sabe!  Me  boy  of  Li  Wong  Chieun,  the  great.  Him 
Chinaman-commissioner-high.  No  samshoo,  no  opium 
pipe ;  riksha  man  no  walkee  slow,  how  can  stop.  You 
sabe  me,  boy  of  Li  Wong  Chieun.  Him  Chinaman- 
commissioner-high  !  " 

This  assertion  by  Boardman's  valet  that  he  is  the 
servant  of  the  Chinese  high  commissioner  startles  the 
Japanese.  For  a  moment  he  thinks  Lum  Kee  is  so 
stunned  he  doesn't  know  what  he  is  saying,  or  is  under 
the  influence  of  samshoo  or  opium. 

The  next  instant  he  is  more  startled  to  find  what  the 
Chinese  servant  has  said  is  true.  The  secretary 
of  Li  Wong  Chieun  comes  hurriedly  out  from 
the  opium  joint  from  which  Lum  Kee  had  prev- 
iously issued.  Addressing  the  policeman  in  excellent 
English,  he  endorses  the  prisoner's  story,  telling  the 
Sikh  that  the  Chinaman  is  and  has  been  a  trusted 
servant  for  many  years  of  the  great  Chinese  high  com- 
missioner. 

Apparently  anxious  that  the  affair  goes  no  further, 
Chieun's  underling  promptly  greases  the  wheels  of  jus- 
tice. This  is  potent  in  the  East  as  well  as  in  the  West. 
Lum  Kee  hurriedly  goes  on  his  way ;  and  the  Chinese 
interpreter  returns  to  the  pleasure  of  the  opium  joint, 
which  is  apparently  made  more  interetsing  by  several 
rouge-cheeked,  red-robed  Chinese  ladies,  who  can  be 
seen  through  the  half  open  door. 

As  he  closes  the  portal  of  the  house,  a  yellow  paper 
falls  from  the  secretary's  huge,  hanging  sleeve,  which, 
in  his  contention  with  the  Sikh  policeman  has  be- 
come disarranged.  It  is  habitual  for  Chinamen  to 
use  as  pockets  this  portion  of  their  garmentsl  which 


82  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

are  much  superior  in  dimensions  and  convenience 
to  the  modern  Western  woman's  hand  satchel.  Osuri 
thinks  but  little  of  this,  though  prompted  almost  by  an 
instinct  he  picks  up  the  paper.  It  is  the  usual  yellow 
placard  common  to  native  Chinese  printing  houses  and 
bears  some  notice  for  general  distribution,  "  There- 
fore it  can't  be  very  much  of  a  secret,"  cogitates  the 
Japanese  captain. 

Though  he  is  under  the  electric  light,  near  the  corner 
of  Wyndham  Street;  with  his  imperfect  knowledge  of 
the  Chinese  language  it  will  take  him  some  time  to  de- 
cipher this.  He  is  about  to  toss  the  placard  away  when 
some  peculiar  words  catch  his  eye,  and  he  hurriedly 
goes  to  the  Hong  Kong  Hotel  and  runs  up  the  stairs 
to  his  apartments.  What  he  has  discerned  upon  the 
yellow  paper  has  startled  him.  In  his  anxiety  for 
the  safety  of  the  being  he  has  made  his  goddess,  the 
young  man  forgets  for  the  moment  he  has  no  hope 
of  her. 

He  is  greeted  in  the  usual  way  by  his  faithful  boy, 
Saraki,  who,  rising  from  a  mat,  prostrates  himself,  and 
says :  "  A  cable  message  came  at  midnight  for  you, 
my  master" — then  getting  a  glance  of  Osuri's  face  he 
muttered  to  himself :  "  God  of  111  Luck,  what  misfor- 
tune has  stricken  thy  bright  face  ?  " 

"  Very  well,  Saraki.  Light  the  lamps  upon  my  table 
and  bring  me  some  cigars,  and  I  think  I'll  take  a  glass 
of  sake,"  orders  his  master  hastily. 

Glancing  over  the  cable,  which  is  from  his  govern- 
ment, Katsuma  thinks :  "  I  can  do  nothing  about  this 
until  business  hours,"  and  devotes  himself  to  decipher- 
ing the  yellow  placard. 

As  he  finishes  reading  this  there  is  great  concern 
upon  his  countenance.  Catching  five  little  written 
characters  upon  its  reverse  side  he  cogitates :  "  Mil- 
lions of  these  distributed  in  Northern  China — and 
the  Chinese  high  commissioner  will  not  pay  for  his 
government  unless  Boardman  goes  to  Peking  to  get 


TANGLED  FLAdS.  83 

his  money — naturally  taking  with  him  his  daughter. 
Lum  Kee,  who  is  now  Boardman's  courier,  is  an  old 
and  trusted  servant  of  Li  Wong  Chieun,  who  looked 
upon  her  loveliness  with  eyes  that  made  me  want  to 
drive  them  through  the  back  of  his  head.  By  Riu  Jin! 
would  he  dare — can  he  dream !  "  The  young  man's 
face  grows  horrified,  then  after  an  awful  oath,  he 
sneers  at  himself:  "  Baka,  that  is  as  wild  a  thought 
as  any  in  a  Tokio  melodrama !  " 

From  the  placard  he  turns  gloomily  to  his  telegram 
on  government  business.  This  compels  him  to  make 
quite  a  number  of  calculations.  Finishing  these,  as 
day  comes  on,  he  murmurs :  "  These  orders  for  arms 
will  give  me  additional  opportunity  to  warn  the  Amer- 
ican. Upon  the  Dusiness  of  our  war  office  I  can  call 
upon  her  father,  and  my  goddess  need  not  think  I  am 
still  in  pursuit  of  the  unattainable.  And  yet  she  some- 
times looks  kindly  on  me,"  he  sighs. 

Then  the  picture  of  the  American  lieutenant  coming 
under  his  eyes,  his  lips  quiver,  he  moans :  "  By  my 
Gods  and  your  God,  were  it  any  but  you,  man  of  my 
heart !  "  The  ineffable  despair  of  his  situation  strik- 
ing him,  he  throws  down  his  pen,  utters  a  miserable 
groan,  and  clasps  with  his  hands  his  head,  that  is  ach- 
ing to  bursting. 

A  moment  later  he  exclaims,  decidedly :  "  There  is 
no  half  way !  Honest  to  both  or  traitor  even  to  truth  !  " 
and  burns  up,  over  a  taper  flame,  the  few  paltry  relics  of 
a  passion  he  is  fighting  to  destroy ;  some  flowers  she 
pinned  in  his  buttonhole  but  the  night  before ;  a  frag- 
ment of  lace  he  had  ravished  from  the  floating  skirt 
of  the  robe  that  she  had  graced ;  a  rose  she  had 
coquettishly  thrown  at  him  one  evening,  as  he  had  left 
her  father's  parlor;  for  Osuri  Katsuma  had  not  given 
his  heart  without  many  pleasant  though  careless  smiles 
from  the  young  American  lady.  Last  of  all  is  a  little 
white  glove  she  had  lost  as  he  revived  her  after  cobra- 
fright — as  this  shrivels  in  the  flame  his  eyes  gleam 


passionately  and  he  mutters:  "Goddess  of  Sunlight, 
1  kissed  thee  once, — I  shall  kiss  thee  again — but  it  will 
be  my  death  kiss !  " 

They  are  ashes.  As  with  a  sigh  he  turns  away,  to 
him  the  ever  watchful  and  devoted  Saraki  glides  and 
whispers :  "  Has  a  rival  opposed  thee  with  the  beauti- 
ful lady  to  whom,  last  night,  I  gave  your  orchids  flam- 
ing with  love.  If  so,  my  master,  tell  me  his  name 
that  I  may  go  to  some  tree  dedicated  to  the  Kami  and 
make  a  straw  image  of  thy  enemy.  Then  driving  nails 
into  its  trunk,  persuade  the  gods  it  is  thy  rival  who  has 
desecrated  the  sacred  tree,  and  so  bring  down  upon  him 
their  vengeance." 

"  Pish,  boy,"  says  his  master,  with  a  hollow  laugh, 
"  that  is  but  an  old  superstition." 

"  Old  superstition  !  "  shudders  the  lad.  "  Haven't 
I  seen  a  hundred  sacred  trees  destroyed  by  nails? 
Haven't  I  heard  of  girls  dooming  others  to  death  in  the 
quiet  of  the  night  by  what  you  call  superstition?  By 
Ema,  Osuri,  son  of  daimios,  you  forget  what  you  would 
once  have  deemed  sacred,  as  I  do." 

Then  the  boy,  going  sadly  away,  murmurs :  "  I'll 
watch.  I'll  find  the  enemy  he  will  not  deliver  to  my 
eyes,  and  when  I  do,  if  the  gods  don't  strike  him,  I, 
who  once  would  have  worn  two  swords,  shall  remem- 
ber the  traditions  of  my  race.  If  a  daimio  is  injured, 
who  should  delight  to  fall  for  him  but  one  of  his 
samurai." 

But  Saraki's  interruption  has  been  beneficial  to  his 
master.  Katsuma's  meditation  becomes  action.  He 
reasons :  "  My  order  for  additional  arms  would  be 
a  warning  to  any  one  acquainted  with  the  Chi- 
nese situation.  To  it  I'll  add  a  more  direct  one!  If 
that  fails,  there's  only  her  love  for  Jim  Ingraham  to 
which  to  turn  to  keep  Eira  safe  from  what  I  fear  in 
Peking.  God  of  despair,  my  action  may  give  her  to 
another  man — within  this  day."  A  spasm  of  agony 
ripples  his  face,  but  does  not  stay  his  resolve. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  85 

Anxiety  obliterating  some  of  the  sadness  in  his  face, 
after  bath  and  careful  toilette,  though  he  eats  no  break- 
fast, Osuri  goes  up  to  the  Peak  Hotel  and,  bowing  to 
Passmere  and  his  bride,  is  shortly  shown,  by  the 
smiling  Lum  Kee,  into  the  parlor  of  the  American 
manufacturer.  Blessing  God  he  does  not  meet  the  face 
of  Eira  Boardman,  which  would  have  brought  to  him 
too  great  a  misery,  Katsuma  receives  a  very  cordial 
greeting  of  his  host,  who  strives  to  conceal,  under 
affability,  some  happening  which  has  distressed  or 
disconcerted  him. 

"  Sorry  you  didn't  stay  to  the  last  of  it  at  Mrs.  Mur- 
ray's," remarks  Joel.  "A  little  play  at  the  Hong  Kong 
Club,  eh  ?  I  can  see  a  map  of  it  in  your  eyes,  my  boy. 
After  you  had  gone,  I  vacated  the  whist  table  and  had 
a  delightful  old-fashioned  Virginia  Reel ;  they  call  it 
Sir  Roger  de  Coverly  here.  I  danced  with  Lady  Inglis. 
She's  a  very  fine  woman,  sir,  and  as  affable  as  she  is 
charming.  If  you  came  on  business,  I'm  ready  to  talk 
to  you.  If  you  are  here  for  pleasure,  I  regret  that  my 
daughter  is  downtown,  shopping." 

At  this  the  Japanese  winces ;  he  quite  accurately 
guesses  the  girl  of  his  heart  is  awaiting  her  coming 
lover  on  the  San  Francisco  steamer.  Fighting  down 
misery,  he  contrives  to  say,  in  official  tones :  "  Mr. 
Boardman,  this  is  my  motive  for  calling  on  you.  I've 
an  additional  order  from  my  government.  They  want 
twice  as  many  of  those  rapid-fire  guns,  and  desire  them 
immediately." 

"  Immediately !  By  Jove,  slaughter'  is  booming ! 
I've  just  got  another  order  from  the —  The  Ameri- 
can checks  himself  and  mumbles:  "  Then  I'll  have  to 
cable,"  asking,  suspiciously :  "  What  the  devil  are 
you  in  such  a  hurry  for  the  rapid-fires  ?  " 

"  That's  the  business  of  my  government,  not  mine," 
answers  the  officer.  n  However,  I'm  directed,  in  or- 
der to  expedite  your  delivery,  to  state  that  cash  will 
be  paid  for  them  immediately  on  their  arrival  at  Tokio, 


86  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

after  quick  examination,"  adding,  parenthetically: 
"  The  tests  upon  the  others  were  so  satisfactory.  Here 
is  what  we  want  in  detail."  He  places  a  memorandum 
before  the  American.  "  Let  me  know  the  date  you  can 
deliver,  by  to-morrow,  if  possible ;  as  I  have  to  leave 
Hong  Kong  almost  immediately." 

"  All  right,  if  cables  '11  do  it !  "  answers  Boardman, 
writing  a  despatch,  the  discussion  and  wording  of 
which  occupies  some  time. 

As  he  rises  to  go,  the  Japanese  rather  nervously 
asks :  "  You've  been  thinking  over  what  I  told  you 
about  visiting  Peking?" 

"  Yes,  but  I  don't  see  how  it  can  be  avoided." 

"  But  you  will  not  take  your  daughter  ?  " 

"  Hum !  Any  additional  reasons  to  what  you  gave 
me  last  night  ?  " 

"  Yes,  this  document — no  matter  how  I  came  by 
it — is  being  circulated  by  millions  all  through  the  prov- 
inces of  Northern  China."  Katsuma  produces  the 
placard  which  had  fallen  from  the  sleeve  of  the  com- 
missioner's secretary  and  places  it  in  the  hands  of  the 
manufacturer. 

Gazing  at  it,  the  American  says :  "  Who  the  dickens 
can  read  that  lingo !  " 

"  I  can,"  replies  Osuri.  "  Colloquial  Chinese  might 
in  certain  instances  be  difficult  to  me,  but  this  is  in  the 
language  of  the  Literati,  many  of  its  characters  synony- 
mous with  those  of  Japan.  This  is  what  it  says,"  and 
he  translates  to  the  astounded  American  this  peculiar 
document : 

"  TO  THOSE  WHO  HAVE  BURNED  PUNK  STICKS 
AT  THE  ALTARS  OF  GODS  AND  MADE  SACRIFICE 
FOR  THE  OUTCASTING  OF  FOREIGN  DEVILS !  * 

"  God  assists  the  Boxers,  the  patriotic,  harmonious  corps ! 
"  It  is  because  the  Foreign  Devils  disturb  the  Middle  King- 
dom urging  the  people  to  join  their  religion,  to  turn  their 

*  This  is  practically  one  of  the  proclamations  actually  cir- 
culated lately  in  China.— £<f. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  87 

backs  on  Heaven,  venerate  not  the  Gods  and  forget  the  an- 
cestors; men  violate  the  human  obligations;  women  commit 
adultery. 

"  Foreign  Devils  are  not  produced  by  mankind.  If  you 
doubt  this,  look  at  them  carefully.  The  eyes  of  all  Foreign 
Devils  are  blueish. 

"  No  rain  falls ;  the  earth  is  getting  dry.  This  is  because 
their  churches  stop  the  Heaven. 

"  The  Gods  are  angry ;  the  Giants  are  out  of  their  caves ;  the 
Genii  are  vexed. 

"  The  Gods  will  come  out  of  the  grottoes.  The  Genii  will 
come  down  from  the  mountains  and  support  human  bodies  to 
practice. 

"  When  all  the  military  accomplishments  or  tactics  are  fully 
learned,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  exterminate  the  Foreign 
Devils. 

"  Push  aside  the  railway  tracks, ;  pull  out  the  telegraph 
poles. 

"  Immediately  after  this  destroy  the  steamers. 

"  Let  the  Foreign  Devils  all  be  killed. 

"  Let  the  whole  glorious  Empire  cf  the  great  Ching  dynasty 
be  very  prosperous." 


"  Good  Lordy,  and  will  any  sane  man  listen  to  that 
rot?  "  jeers  the  American,  disdainfully. 

"  John  Chinaman  will !  This  is  as  powerful  an  ap- 
peal to  him  as  if  a  Catholic  were  called  upon  to  avenge 
his  Pope;  a  Turk  to  rise  for  his  Sacred  Standard;  a 
Christian  to  fight  for  his  faith  1  " 

"  Look  here,  Katsuma,  I've  made  inquiries,"  re- 
turns Boardman.  "  You  are  the  only  fellow  in  all 
Hong  Kong  who  seems  to  fear  a  Chinese  outbreak." 

"  Still,  by  my  Gods  and  your  God,  be  guided  by  one 
who  wishes  well  to  you  and  yours.  Don't  go  to 
Peking." 

"  But  I  must.  By  gee-hosh,  that  Chieun  is  going  to 
pay  me  my  money  there !  "  answers  the  Yankee,  in 
business  decision. 

"  Then,  don't  take  your  daughter.  Think  of  her 
delicate  loveliness,  perchance,  exposed  to  a  barbaric 
mob.  You  don't  know  what  the  Chinese  are  when 
aroused  by  religious  frenzy.  In  a  land  where  evidence 
is  obtained  from  -witnesses  under  the  rods  of  execu- 


88  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

tioners,  what  mercy  would  their  rabble  have  to  one 
their  priests  proclaim  accursed !  " 

"  Very  well,"  answers  the  American,  shortly,  "  Eira 
doesn't  go.  When  I  run  on,  I'll  leave  her  with  Mrs. 

Elton  here "  He  cuts  this  short  with  an  oath,  and 

continues,  ruefully :  "  By  Jove,  that  won't  do,  the  fly- 
away widow  has  within  the  hour  married  young  Pass- 
mere,  who  I  now  learn  is  attached  to  the  British 
Legation,  and,  of  course,  goes  on  with  him  almost  im- 
mediately to  the  Chinese  capital." 

"  Ah,  but  under  this  showing  that  I  make,  perhaps 
the  lady  will  not  accompany  her  husband." 

"Won't  she!"  says  Boardman,  snapping  his  jaws. 
"  You  don't  know  a  newly  married  widow.  Flora  will 
stick  to  Passmere  as  if  she  had  never  seen  a  man  be- 
fore. What  do  you  think!  The  little  fool  married 
him  offhand,  without  saying  a  word  to  anybody.  Now, 
my  daughter  is  of  a  different  kind.  She'd  no  more 
dream  of  doing  the  marriage  act  without  asking  my 
approval  than  she'd  think  of  going  to  bed  without 
saying  her  prayers.  She  never  had  a  secret  from  me, 
sir,  in  her  whole  innocent  life." 

"  Probably  Mr.  Passmere  may  not  take  his  bride," 
suggests  Osuri,  wincing,  but  sneering  at  Boardman's 
parental  confidence. 

"  Won't  he !  You  don't  know  how  hard-headed 
Johnny  Bull  is  at  times,  and  the  Honorable  Arthur's 
a  young  Johnny  Bull,"  remarks  the  Yankee. 

"  With  a  good  many  Eastern  mannerisms  and  some 
startling  Americanisms,"  replies  the  Japanese  officer. 
"  Still,  I  think  I  can  place  the  matter  before  the  young 
man  so  that  he  will  permit  his  wife  to  remain  in  Hong 
Kong !  "  Katsuma  again  arises. 

"  Where  the  devil  are  you  going?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  speak  to  Mr.  Passmere." 

"  What,  interrupt  a  tete-a-tete  honeymoon  break- 
fast!" 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  89 

"  The  safety  of  his  wife  should  be  sufficient  excuse 
for  my  intrusion." 

"  You'll  hardly  make  the  Honorable  Arthur  believe 
that !  "  smiles  Boardman.  "  You  see,  Katsuma,  nobody 
but  you  in  Hong  Kong  seems  to  think  there  is  any 
more  danger  in  Peking  than  there  is  in  Tokio,  or,  for 
that  matter,  Washington." 

"  They  will  soon,"  murmurs  the  Japanese,  prophet- 
ically. "  Anyway,  by  this  yellow  placard,  you  must 
not  let  your  daughter  go  to  Peking !  "  and  he  walks 
off  towards  the  erstwhile  Mrs.  Elton's  apartments. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
"BLUNDERED   THROUGH." 

The  morning  is  not  yet  over;  in  the  tropics  the  day 
begins  at  sunrise.  In  Flora's  handsome  parlor  at  the 
Peak  Hotel,  that  lady  is  enjoying  a  honeymoon  break- 
fast with  the  astute  scamp,  into  whose  power  she  has 
given  her  exquisite  self;  while  in  a  neighboring  apart- 
ment Mrs.  Passmere's  maid  is  packing  her  mistress's 
trunks  for  her  short  wedding  outing  to  Kau-lung. 

Among  the  handsome  furniture  of  the  room  is  a  very 
beautiful  lady's  writing  table.  Decorated  with  mar- 
quetry, it  stands  carelessly  open,  littered  by  the  dainty 
(  correspondence  of  the  erstwhile  Mrs.  Elton. 

Holding  up  the  sugar  tongs  in  her  taper  fingers,  the 
bride  asks  diffidently :  "  How  many  lumps  in  your  cof- 
fee, dear  Arthur?  "  So  posed,  catching  sight  of  her  let- 
ters, Flora's  delicate  face  flushes  and  grows  embar- 
rassed. 

"  From  your  sweet  hands,  two  will  be  plenty,"  whis- 
pers the  bridegroom  uxoriously;  the  schemer's  sharp 
eyes  following  the  lady's  nervous  glance. 

"  Desperately  anxious  to  get  her  correspondence  out 


90  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

of  my  sight,  but  doesn't  quite  dare,"  sneers  her  crafty 
spouse. 

At  the  close  of  the  meal,  Flora  laughs:  "Now  run 
off  your  usual  smoke.  Outside  you  can  tell  every- 
body the  news,  Arthur." 

''  Sooner  be  close  to  you,  my  pretty  darling,"  he  re- 
marks gallantly,  and  tossing  himself  into  a  luxuriant 
armchair,  produces  languidly  his  cigar-case. 

Seeing  he  is  immovable,  Mrs.  Passmere  with  wifely 
hand  lights  her  husband's  Havana  and  whispers: 
"  Make  yourself  comfortable,  dear,  while  I  slip  on  my 
going-away  frock."  Favoring  him  with  a  bashful  buss, 
she  trips  out  of  the  room  praying  that  her  new  lord's 
weed  will  keep  him  so  pleasantly  employed  as  to  make 
him  oblivious  io  her  correspondence.  "  Not  that  there's 
anything  in  those  foolish  letters,  but  Arthur's  so  touch- 
ily  jealous,"  she  shivers. 

Surrounded  by  wreaths  of  fragrant  vapor,  the 
scoundrel  benedict  dreamily  contemplates  the  lady 
he  has  won.  "  Flora's  affectionate  as  a  new  kitten," 
he  thinks  complacently.  "  Though  she's  just  the  sort 
of  a  woman  if  I  came  home  boozy  and  abused  her, 
would  loathe  me  as  a  bully  and  a  brute,  still  Imogene 
was  right  when  she  wrote  me  that  Mrs.  Elton  was  one 
of  the  kind  who'll  be  as  meek  as  a  mouse  to  marital 
authority  officially  exercised,  because  the  man  was  her 
husband."  He  glances  at  an  Episcopal  prayer  book, 
emblazoned  by  golden  cross  and  High  Church  decora- 
tion, and  laughs :  "  She  is  a  regular  little  Puseyite 
and  believes  divorce  sinful,  another  pretty  strong  link 
to  the  nuptial  chains  in  which  I'm  going  to  imprison 
her  dainty  limbs.  How  timidly  her  hand  gripped  mine 
as  she  promised  to  obey  me."  A  moment  later  he  mut- 
ters :  "  By  Jove,  I  wonder  what  made  my  minx  so 
deucedly  fidgety  about  her  letters." 

He  strolls  over  to  the  escritoire,  where  among  tinted 
paper  and  perfumed  envelopes  lie  a  few  notes  care- 
lessly, tossed  about.  Catching  the  handwriting  of  two 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  9! 

» 

or  three  of  these,  his  face  becomes  livid  with  jealous 
rage.  Heedless  that  this  correspondence  took  place 
before  this  lady  wedded  him,  he  reads  them  all  care- 
fully. Replacing  them  as  he  found  them,  after  a  long 
drawn  oath,  he  snarls  between  his  teeth :  "  The  flirta- 
tious baggage.  The  major  wasn't  the  only  one!" 

Returning  to  his  armchair,  he  mutters  savagely: 
"  Hang  it,  I'm  glad  of  these  infernal  letters.  They 
give  me  the  warrant  to  take  the  right  line  with  Flora 
instantly.  She's  now  absolutely  dependent  upon  me. 
Imogene  who  knows  her  sex  from  skin  to  skin  writes, 
that  I  must  rule  Miss  Sly-puss  as  strictly  and  sharply 
as  if  she  were  a  naughty  ten-year-old,  that  she  is 
aesthetically  religious;  and  the  more  austerely  in- 
flexible my  authority,  the  more  she'll  look  up  to  me 
and  adore  me."  Then  he  chuckles :  "  I've  picked  up 
enough  of  missionary  parlance  as  teacher-boy  at  Tung- 
Chow  to  place  my.  severity  on  high  moral  grounds. 
Passionate  love  and  rigorous  discipline  shall  go  hand 
in  hand  to  make  Madam  Coquette  tremble  at  a  right- 
eous husband  made  tyrannical  by  ardent  jealousy  of 
her  sprightly  graces.  Then  she'll  cling  to  me  through 
thick  and  thin  and  if  she  hears  offish  reports  about  me, 
will  never  believe  I'm  other  than  a  saint.  Nothing  like 
beginning  right  with  a  woman.  I'll  begin  right  with 
Flora !  "  This  last  is  uttered  between  his  set  teeth  with 
crafty  yet  merciless  resolution. 

Just  here  the  Honorable  Arthur  nearly  drops  his 
cigar,  starts  up,  and  ejaculates,  admiration  in  his  eyes : 
"  By  Jove !  " 

For  his  bride  is  standing  before  him,  robed  in  the 
most  delicate  of  white  muslins  adorned  by  great  masses 
of  fluffy  lace  that  give  a  floating  effect  to  the  light  jupe, 
which  slightly  held  up  by  her  fair  hand,  drapes  a  form 
in  the  perfect  development  of  Venus's  earliest  maturity. 
The  day  being  very  warm  and  the  wedding  journey  to 
be  by  sedan-chair  and  boat,  her  little  feet  are  in  petite 


92  TANGLED  FLAGS, 

bronze  high-heeled  slippers  spotless  of  dust,  and  silken 
stockings  of  lightest  texture  and  palest  tint,  immacu- 
late. Through  the  sheer  tissues  of  her  corsage  can  be 
seen  exquisitely  moulded  shoulders  of  dazzling  ivory, 
just  the  suspicion  of  the  contours  of  a  bosom  graceful 
as  Hebe's,  and,  in  their  entirety,  superbly  rounded  arms 
fair  as  virgin  snow.  Her  figure,  which  is  above  the 
medium  height,  shrinks  slightly  under  his  searching 
look.  Her  face  is  flushed,  her  eyes  sparkling  with  af- 
fection, though  diffident  and  perchance  anxious  as  they 
rest  upon  their  lord. 

The  radiant  beauty  of  his  prize  for  a  moment  places 
only  admiration  in  her  captor's  eyes:  then  his  glance 
becomes  more  severe ;  he  cogitates  austerely :  "  By 
pig-tails,  Madam  Fast-and-loose  seems  so  nervous  she 
rather  guesses,  that  I've  dropped  upon  her  corre- 
spondence." 

For  Flora  as  her  maid  has  robed  her,  has  had  time 
to  appreciate  how  thoroughly  and  unprotectedly  she 
has  given  herself  to  this  husband  whom  she  scarcely 
knows.  She  is  aware  that  her  entire  fortune  legally  be- 
longs to  him,  that  she  has  rashly  made  herself  abso- 
lutely and  entirely  dependent  upon  his  generosity.  She 
quite  well  knows  that  she  will  receive  no  outside  as- 
sistance; that  her  uncle  meant  his  words  when  after 
hearing  of  her  hasty  and  secret  marriage  he  had  said 
she  had  made  her  bed  and  must  lie  in  it.  A  German 
education  and  some  years  of  European  life  have  im- 
pressed her  with  the  power  of  Continental  husbands. 

In  addition,  something  in  her  spouse's  manner  now 
indicates  displeasure.  Therefore,  this  lady  who  had 
yesterday  been  self-reliant,  perhaps  dictatorial  in  her 
great  loveliness  and  independent  wealth,  thinking  of 
the  frivolous  letters  carelessly  left  open  to  his  jealous 
inspection,  now  droops  bashfuly  under  her  husband's 
glance. 

As  she  meditates,  Mr.  Passmere  startles  her  by  his 
accurate  divination ;  for  playfully  pinching  her  delicate 


FLAGS.  0j 

car,  he  remarks :  "  This  stunning  toilette  was 
Intended  for  tete-a-tete  with  that  beast  Tilford  at  his 
Saiwan  picnic,  eh?" 

"  Oh,  how  did  you  guess  ?  "  she  gasps,  amazed,  con- 
fused and  mortified. 

"You'll  find  I  guess  about  everything  that  is  in  your 
coquettish  head,  my  darling,"  remarks  the  groom,  who 
has  chanced  to  see  through  a  half-open  door  Flora's 
finery  laid  out  in  her  bedroom  as  he  passed  in  to 
fereakfast. 

Then  suddenly  the  husband  whom  she  had  looked 
upon  as  almost  a  boy,  remembering  his  sister's  advice, 
seems  to  the  astounded  Flora  to  change  into  a  man  of 
austere  bearing,  whose  calm  gray  eyes  fascinate  yet 
confound  her.  Mr.  Passmere's  six  feet  of  height  ap- 
pears to  grow  gigantic,  impressive,  masterful,  even 
almost  ecclesiastic;  the  Honorable  Arthur  has  not  en- 
tirely forgotten  his  training,  as  a  Mission  boy. 

He  coolly  seats  himself  in  a  large  armchair,  and  re- 
marks pointedly:  "Now  just  a  few  plain  words  to 
you  before  I  take  charge  of  your  life's  journey.  Step 
to  me  at,  once,  Flora,  I  shall  seat  you  on  my  knee  as 
I  talk  to  you  !  " 

His  tone  is  such  that  she  obeys  him  timidly.  Placing 
his  strong  arm  about  her  slight  waist,  he  craftily  makes 
this  magnificent  woman  feel  childish  by  lifting  her 
graceful  yet  superbly  developed  figure  to  his  lap,  where 
she  sits  dangling  her  delicate  feet  in  air.  Confused  and 
bashful,  for  this  is  the  first  time  she  has  occupied  this 
position,  she  hides  her  face  upon  his  shoulder. 

Despite  himself,  the  propinquity  of  his  beautiful  sub- 
ject mollifies  her  mentor  slightly.  He  says  signifi- 
cantly but  affably :  "  You  made  a  slight  mistake  about 
your  age  this  morning,  didn't  you  my  pet?  "  for  Flora 
has  not  dared  to  lie  to  the  register.  "  All  the  same 
I'm  not  annoyed  about  it,  don't  yer  know.  Somehow 
or  other  I  feel  as  if  you're  all  the  more  splendid  woman 


94  tANGLED  FLAGS. 

to  caress  and  love  and  rule."    He  gives  her  an  astutely 
ardent  kiss. 

"  Oh  Arthur,  I'm  so  pleased !  I  feared  you  might  be 
angry  with  me  and  say  I  deceived  you  again,"  mur- 
murs the  bride,  snuggling  a  little  hand  into  his  big  one. 
Then  both  his  manner  and  his  words  bringing  Mr. 
Boardman's  financial  remarks  to  her  mind,  she  whis- 
pers, in  embarrassed  helplessness :  "  Do  you  know,  my 
husband,  I've  got  to  ask  you  for  an — an  allowance." 
As  she  makes  her  petition,  Flora  looks  down  diffidently. 
A  little  foot  and  graceful  ankle  poked  from  beneath 
the  laces  of  her  jupe,  are  trembling  nervously.  It 
seems  almost  like  asking  her  lord  for  his,  not  her  own 
money. 

"  Indeed  ?  "  Mr.  Passmere's  tone  becomes  coldly 
critical. 

"  Yes,  Arthur,"  she  says  desperately.  "  My 
uncle  tells  me  all  my  fortune  is  now  absolutely  and 
legally  yours;  that  I  am  utterly  dependent  upon  your 
bounty,  having  married  you  without  a  settlement." 

"  I  was  perfectly  aware  of  it,  my  dear  Flora,  at  the 
time,"  answers  this  consummate  rascal  frankly.  "  I 
wish  completely  to  control  your  personal  expenditures 
so  that  I  can  the  more  firmly  govern  you  who,  I  feel, 
need  both  rigorous  rule  and  severe  discipline  to  make 
you  the  wife  I  have  ordained  you  to  be — one  whose 
whole  life  shall  be  for  me,  your  husband." 

A  less  able  villain  would  have  pretended  surprise  and 
that  the  alienation  of  her  fortune  was  not  deliberate, 
and  perchance  have  been  thought  knave  and  trickster 
by  Flora  who  has  a  sprightly  though  not  a  profound 
mind.  But  this  wary  gentleman  calmy  makes  it  not 
only  his  marital  right  but  his  marital  duty  to  confiscate 
his  bride's  wealth  in  order  to  mould  her  into  the  wife 
that  his  love  demands. 

Though  his  words  half  stun,  their  down-right 
candor  convince  Flora  that  this  man  whose  arm  has 
lover's  clasp  about  her,  is  no  hypocrite.  In  addition, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  95 

the  bride,  aware  that  she  is  a  flirt,  feels  contrite  under 
a  reproof  she  thinks  is  produced  by  jealous  passion. 

"  You — you  are  still  displeased  with  me  about  the 
•m?jor,"  she  murmurs  after  a  confused  pause,  her  face 
which  had  grown  pale  blushing  vividly. 

"  No,  I  told  you  I  forgave  you  that,  Flora.  But 
there  are  other  offences,  besides  radical  faults  of  habit, 
that  for  our  wedded  happiness  I  have  determined  to 
eradicate." 

"  I — I  hardly  understand  you,"  she  expostulates 
faintly. 

"  No,  you've  gone  your  dainty  yet  merciless  way  so 
long  it  seems  to  you  natural  to  wish  all  men  at  your 
feet." 

"  Oh,  how  can  you  speak  so  severely  to  me !  "  she 
half  sobs ;  then  turning  affrighted  eyes  on  her  mentor, 
gasps :  "  Arthur,  do  you  love  me  ?  " 

"  I  love  you  so  mightily  that  having  won  you,  I  am 
going  to  keep  you  as  the  most  precious  thing  on  earth." 
An  amorous  kiss  emphasizes  his  subtle  words. 

"Then,  my  husband,  all  is  well !  "  she  whispers,  and 
nestling  to  him,  tries  to  mollify  this  man  who,  she  feels, 
is  now  her  autocrat. 

"  Therefore,  so  that  my  rule  of  you  shall  be  abso- 
lute and  complete,  every  personal  expense  of  yours 
must  come  under  my  eye.  Consequently  I  shall  not 
permit  you  an  allowance." 

"  But — but  I  must  have  some  little  pocket  money !" 
falters  this  lady  who  having  had  a  magnificent  income 
two  hours  ago,  finds  it  very  hard  to  grow  accustomed 
to  nothing  in  a  minute. 

"  Not  a  farthing  unless  I  think  it  wise !  " 

"  O — oh !  "  This  is  a  faint  gasp  from  the  plun- 
dered one. 

"  Why,  I'll  have  to  come  to  you  whenever  I — I  want 
a  new  bonnet,"  she  stammers. 

"Yes,  it  will  be  awfully  jolly,  won't  it?  How 
pleased  you  will  look  when  I  give  you  one,  won't  you  ?  " 


06  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  Yes,  but— if  you  don't?"  Both  little  feet  are  trem- 
bling nervously. 

"  Oh,  in  that  case  you  must  look  pleasant  also." 
Then  his  tone  becoming  inflexible,  her  dictator  says 
shortly :  "  I  might  as  well  tell  you  at  once,  Flora, 
should  you  make  a  request  and  I  refuse  it,  you  are  not 
to  bother  me  by  asking  again.  I  shall  not  permit  you 
to  tease,  don't  yer  see ! " 

But  yesterday  this  magnificent  woman  would  have 
burst  out  indignantly;  now  her  absolute  dependence 
upon  this  man  overcoming  Flora,  her  pleading  eyes 
sink  before  his  fervid  yet  rigorous  glance,  she  hangs 
her  head  while  this  young  Eastern  Machiavelli  patting 
and  soothing  her  sculptured  shoulders  as  if  she  were 
a  spoilt  child,  calmly  but  inexorably  lays  out  a  domestic 
programme  that  tells  this  lady,  who  but  an  hour  ago 
had  been  coquetry  itself,  that  she  has  seen  her  last 
flirtation  until  she  encounters  a  second  widowhood. 

"  You  understand  me  now  ?  "  he  asks  significantly. 
Through  the  gossamer  of  her  corsage,  her  shoulders 
vibrate  under  his  strong  hand  which  thrills  her  with  a 
great  love,  yet  seems  to  dominate  her  so  inexorably. 

Making  a  faint  struggle  for  freedom,  she  pleads 
nervously :  "  Oh,  why  do  you  think  I  need  such  sever- 
ity?" 

"  These  letters !  "  He  sternly  indicates  the  documents 
on  her  desk,  and  she  gazing  on  them  understands,  and 
covers  with  both  slight  hands  a  head  bowed  in  in- 
describable mortification  and  chagrin. 

"  You  didn't  think,  madame,"  he  continues  in  the 
voice  of  Draconian  virtue,  "  that  when  you  left  those 
amorous  notes  carelessly  about  this  morning,  within  an 
hour  they  would  come  under  your  husband's  eye." 

"  I  didn't  know  I'd  have  a  husband,"  she  gasps,  then 
suddenly  falters :  "  My  Heaven,  you  don't  think  I 
didn't  mean  my  wedding  vows,  Arthur?"  She  slips 
from  his  knee  and  turns  agonized  eyes  upon  him. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  97 

"  No,"  he  answers  in  artful  sincerity.  "  I  know  you 
meant  them  as  reverently  and  thoroughly  as  any 
woman  who  ever  faced  a  bishop." 

"  Thank  God !  " 

"  That's  the  reason  I  value  you  and  your  love  so 
much  that  I'm  going  to  take  precious  good  care  of  you. 
You  have  acquired  the  habit  of  flirtation,  of  which  by 
Heaven  I'll  break  you,  or  you'll  break  my  heart." 

"  Then  I  must  make  you  have  faith  in  me,  for  you 
must  believe !  "  she  says  in  sad  desperation.  "  The 
only  thing  I  can  do  to  force  you  to  trust  me  further  is 
this!"  and  astonishes  him  by  running  from  the  room. 

Within  the  moment  she  returns,  and  placing  her 
purse  well  filled  with  bank-notes  in  her  tyrant's  hand, 
remarks  simply :  "  Now  I'm  entirely  helpless.  I — I 
haven't  a  farthing  in  the  world." 

"  Thank  you,  sweetheart,"  says  Mr.  Passmere 
quietly,  and  being  a  crafty  ruler,  pockets  it ;  while  this 
lady  astounds  him  by  growing  more  charming  in  her 
womanliness  as  she  feels  herself  forced  to  give  up  every 
atom  of  personal  liberty. 

To  him  she  murmurs  penitently :  "  I  concede  I  have 
certain  frivolous  faults  that  have  probably  grown  upon 
me  in  the  few  years  I  have  been  so  completely  my  own 
fcistress.  These  for  your  peace  of  mind,  my  husband, 
you  have  determined  to  destroy.  Were  I  rebellious,  I 
have  deprived  myself  of  all  power.  But  don't  think  I 
regret  it,  if  it  will  enable  you  to  make  me  a  better 
wife." 

Conquered  by  helpless  love,  she  falters,  her 
sweet  voice  docile  but  trembling :  "  Arthur  I — I  beg 
you  to  pardon  my  letting  other  men  think  I  favored 
them,  while  I  had  virtually  accepted  your  hand.  In 
proof  of  my  penitence  I  yield  myself  to  your  govern- 
ment wholly,  implicitly,  unconditionally.  Eradicate 
my  faults  by  what  discipline  you  deem  essential.  I'd 
sooner  you  punished  me  than  lecture  me  so  cruelly. 
Only  love  me,  and  I  will  never  complain." 


98  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  For  that  pretty  speech  I  must  give  you  half  a  dozen 
kisses,"  says  the  conqueror  radiantly.  Made  more  ten- 
der by  the  superb  beauty  of  the  suppliant,  he  draws  her 
closer  to  him ;  and  she  feeling  that  she  is  his  body  and 
soul  beyond  recall  throws  her  arms  about  the  neck  of 
this  scoundrel  she  adores  and  sobs  like  an  infant  upon 
his  broad  breast.  "  Now  I'll  say  no  more  about  these 
beastly  letters,"  he  remarks  as  he  fondles  her,  "  Only 
beware  of  your  next  offense." 

Awed  by  the  significance  of  his  tone,  she  flutters: 
"  Yes,  yes,  dear ;  I'll  be  very  careful  now !  " 

Under  her  husband's  caresses  the  tears  shortly  leave 
the  bride's  eyes.  Suddenly  she  astounds  her  autocrat 
by  asking :  "  Where  did  you  get  your  knowledge  of 
women  ?  " 

"  Oh — ah,  from — from  my  great  love  of  you.  For 
the  month  I  have  known  you,  I  have  studied  every 
word,  every  look  of  my  darling,"  he  stammers  uneasily. 

To  this  truth,  but  also  subtle  flattery,  the  snared 
one  whispers :  "  Oh  how  devoted  you  were !  " 

A  moment  after  he  suspiciously  questions :  "  Why 
did  you  ask  ?  " 

"  Why,  your  mastery  of  me  has  made  me  adore  you 
more;  you — you  fascinate  me  by  showing  I  am  so 
precious  to  you !  "  And  she  delights  the  bridegroom 
by  returning  his  fervid  embrace. 

"  Quite  right ! "  The  Honorable  Arthur  has  as- 
sumed his  usual  nonchalant  manner  and  got  to  his  col- 
loquialisms again.  Now  he  craftily  plays  another 
winning  card.  "  Before  we  go,  let's  bid  the  kid  good- 
bye, don't  yer  know,"  he  suggests  cheerfully. 

"  Oh  Arthur,  you  want  to  see  our  boy !  "  cries  the 
mother.  Springing  from  his  knee  she  runs  from  the 
room. 

Gazing  after  her,  he  cogitates :  "  By  Jove,  after  this 
Madam  Flirt  '11  not  dare  make  eyes  at  a  duke."  But 
even  the  astute  Passmere  doesn't  know  the  mighty 
force  of  matured  habit. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  99 

Reappearing,  Flora  bears  Harold  in  her  arms.  With 
beaming  eyes,  she  places  the  boy  in  the  spot  she  had 
occupied  a  moment  before,  and  stands  drooping  shyly 
under  her  autocrat's  hand,  who  pats  her  head  in  com- 
plaisant assurance. 

"  Je  t'aime,  my  new  papa !  "  cries  Harold  playing 
unavved  with  Passmere's  mustache.  He's  a  brick,  ma 
chere  marnan.  Er  hat  mir  half  a  sov  for  candy  gege- 
ben." 

"  Well,  here's  a  whole  one  to  buy  more,  my  sturdy 
man !  "  And  Arthur  caresses  the  little  chap  who  has 
sold  his  mother  into  bondage. 

Just  here  he  gets  the  very  tenderest  of  wifely  kisses, 
and  Flora  whispers :  "  God  bless  you,  my  husband, 
for  your  kindness  to  my  child." 

"  Now  I'll  occupy  my  time  by  settling  your  bills  and 
playing  with  the  little  fellow,  while  you,  sweetheart, 
get  your  things  in  order  for  Kau-lung,"  says  Arthur. 
He  gives  the  slight  waist  which  is  within  his  reach  an 
exceedingly  ardent  squeeze,  and  the  bride  trips  from 
the  room,  a  very  happy  smile  upon  her  face. 

With  this,  Mr.  Passmere,  keeping  Harold  quiet  by 
putting  the  urchin  on  a  mechanical  rocking  horse,  his 
face  solemn  with  new-born  domesticity,  runs  through 
the  hotel  accounts  of  the  erstwhile  Mrs.  Elton.  These 
consist  of  everything  under  the  sun ;  laundry  and 
riksha  bills  being  mixed  with  items  of  money  obtained 
at  the  hotel  office  and  accounts  varying  from  lingerie 
to  bonbons  sent  up  for  the  dashing  widow  by  tradesmen 
on  Queen's  Road. 

Finding  they  sum  up  quite  heavily,  he  sneers :  "  My 
darling  won't  be  quite  so  extravagant — from  now  on." 
And  after  some  twenty-minutes'  figuring  gets  these  set- 
tled. 

Then  growing  impatient,  he  carelessly  asks :  "  I 
wonder  where  mama  is,  Harold?  "  as  with  his  vigorous 
foot  he  imparts  more  rapid  motion  to  the  hobby-horse. 


100  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

To  this  the  imp  returns  contemplatively :  "Es  ist  die 
hour  of  mein  Herr  Lieutenant  Burroughs !  " 

"  What,  young  Burroughs  of  the  Artillery !  Has  she 
ANOTHER?"  gasps  Mr.  Passrhere,  giving  the  rocking 
horse  such  a  kick  that  Harold  screams  gleefully: 
"  Catch  him !  Le.  cheval  is  running  away !  Er  ist  a 
bucking  broncho !  " 

Coming  in  upon  thh  scene  and  finding  Arthur  and 
Harold  playing  like  boys  together,  Flora's  face  grows 
radiant  as  the  sun,  and  her  mother's  heart  goes  out  to 
this  man  who  is  so  easily,  so  naturally,  taking  her  child 
unto  him.  She  puts  her  arm  about  her  husband,  and 
whispers :  "  Again  God  bless  you !  Everything  is 
ready  for  me  to  leave,  dear !  "  then  says :  "  My  little 
Harold's  now  got  to  go  with  nursey !  " 

"I  won't  leave  mein  neuer  Voter!"  cries  the  child 
rebelliously. 

"  You  see,  Arthur,  he  loves  you  already,"  she  says 
enthusiastically,  and  picks  up  the  sturdy  boy  to  carry 
him  from  the  room. 

She  has  not  taken  two  steps  when  Harold  suddenly 
ejaculates:  "  Why  mama,  your  dress  is  all  dusty." 

At  this  observation,  the  perturbation  that  flies  over 
the  expressive  face  of  his  bride,  gives  Mr.  Passmere 
acute  jealous  suspicion.  But  he  controls  himself  and 
carelessly  remarks :  "  What  made  you  so  long  in  get- 
ting ready,  pet  ?  " 

"  I — I  had  so  many  things  to  pack.  My  maid  was 
so  stupid,"  she  stammers. 

"  You  didn't  leave  our  apartments,  I  presume, 
Flora  ?  "  He  has  given  her  some  directions  on  this 
point. 

"  No,  of  course  not !  "  gasps  the  interrogated  one 
hastily. 

"  But  as  the  words  leave  her  lips,  a  blush  red,  flam- 
ing, telltale,  and  easily  apparent  through  the  light  tis- 
sues of  her  corsage,  flies  over  her  shoulders  to  her  bos- 
om. Mr.  Passmere  knows  Flora  has  been  guilty  of  a  fib. 


TANOLED   FLAGS.  IOI 

"  It's  probably  the  pious  hussy's  first  whopper,"  he 
reasons  cogently,  "  or  Mrs.  Ananias  wouldn't  be  like  a 
house  afire.  Imogene  wrote  me  that  Flora's  aesthetic 
religious  feeling  would  help  me  to  her  dominion.  By 
Madame's  prayer  book  over  there,  now  is  the  moment 
to  make  this  emotional  culprit  in  shame  and  self-abase- 
ment beg  me  to  both  pardon  and  punish  her  sin.  She 
shall  think  me  her  father  confessor  and  yield  to  me 
her  soul." 

With  this,  the  unscrupulous  adventurer's  eyes  glare 
in  sanctimonious  severity  upon  this  lady,  who  but  yes- 
terday in  her  airy,  insouciant  beauty  had  been  so  care- 
less of  comment,  but  who  now  feeling  herself  one  of 
the  governed,  stands  dazed  in  realizing  that  for  child- 
ish fear  of  correction  her  lips  told  what  -she  considers 
a  despicable  lie. 

To  cover  her  confusion  Flora  would  hurry  the  boy 
from  the  room,  but  her  autocrat  says  quietly :  "  Call 
the  ayah.  Let  her  take  the  boy." 

In  a  broken  voice  she  does  his  word,  while  Mr.  Pass- 
mere,  patting  Harold's  curly  head,  meditates  sarcasti- 
cally :  "  By  Jove,  a  bright-eyed  little  detective !  " 

The  nurse  having  taken  the  child  and  they  being 
alone,  her  judge  commands:  "  Step  this  way,  Flora." 

To  this  the  culprit  answers  nothing,  but  with  her 
graceful  knees  quivering  under  her,  simply  obeys  him. 

Near  the  center  of  the  room  there  is  a  high  chair. 
Without  a  word  he  lifts  her  into  it ;  then  stooping  be- 
fore her,  directs :  "  Show  me  your  feet !  " 

"  Why  Arthur,  what  do  you  want  ?  "  she  flutters. 

"  Your  feet  please !  " 

And  she  quite  bashfully  extending  them  to  him, 
draws  modestly  away  the  light  jupe  and  muslin  skirts 
displaying  under  their  frills  and  laces,  ankles  of  most 
exquisite  grace  and  proportion  and  two  little  trembling 
feet  in  tiny,  high-heeled  slippers,  quite  soiled  now 
with  the  dust  of  Hong  Kong  roads. 

The    delicate    beauty    of    her    trembling   members 


102  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

pleads  with  him,  but  restraining  his  admiration,  he 
says  sharply :  "  The  dust  on  your  feet  shows  that  you 
have  been  away  from  the  hotel." 

V  Yes,  I— I " 

"  You've  been  taking  a  walk  with  young  Burroughs 
©f  the  Artillery.  It  is  his  hour!" 

At  this  acute  arraignment,  the  lovely  accused  con- 
victs herself  by  gasping:  "  Oh  Arthur,  forgive  me!  " 

"  Let  me  look  at  your  right  hand !  "  Inspecting  the 
taper  ringers,  which  ringed  with  jeweled  baubles, 
quiver  under  his  eyes,  he  shudders :  "  By  Heaven, 
they  have  been  pressed  and  squeezed !  " 

"  Arthur,  for  God's  sake  don't  think  I  let  him  kiss 
me !  "  she  half  screams.  "  I — I  only  wanted  to  tell  him 
I  couldn't  go  walking  with  him.  Besides,  I  feared  it 
would  grieve  George." 

"George!   You  dare  call  him  THAT!" 

"  Oh  don't  look  at  me  so  awfully !  I  saw  him  com- 
ing from  my  window.  From  very  force  of  habit  I  ran 
out  to  meet  him.  I — I  didn't  talk  to  him  three  min- 
utes !  " 

"  So  you  slipped  from  the  hotel  on  your  nuptial 
morning  to  give  Lieutenant  Buroughs  interview — of 
which  you  were  too  much  ashamed  to  tell  the  truth! 
When  the  hour  of  your  wedding  is  known,  were  not 
Mr.  Burroughs  a  gentleman,  the  story  in  messroom 
and  barracks  how  the  bride  of  two  hours  gave  him  pri- 
vate meeting,  would  make  me  the  laughter  of  Hong 
Kong."  Mr.  Passmere  craftily  utters  a  kind  of  groan 
and  sinks  into  a  chair. 

He  looks  up  to  find  his  bride  on  her  knees  before 
him  crying :  "  Oh  Arthur,  I — I  didn't  think  of  that. 
I  forgot  that  your  name  is  mine."  The  superb  beauty 
of  the  penitent,  her  teary  eyes,  her  fluttering  hands, 
would  mollify  any  judge  but  this  one. 

"  You  give  me  a  cruel  alternative,"  says  her  execu- 
tioner. "  I  have  either  to  be  harsh  with  you  on  our 
wedding  morning  or  pardon  your  flirtatious  disobe- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  103 

dience  that  some  day  will  break  my  heart.  Besides  that 
awful  lie  from  a  woman  of  your  religious  nature,  of 
which,  thank  God,  I  see  you  are  now  ashamed." 

For  at  mention  of  a  fault  which  she  thinks  despica- 
ble, Flora's  face,  neck  and  shoulders  crimson  again 
with  humiliation. 

"  Yes ;  yes ;  you  mustn't  pardon  my  lie,"  she  gasps 
in  hysterical  beatitude.  Then  frightened  by  the  sentence 
she  has  pronounced  against  herself,  the  unfortunate 
lady  hides  her  face  in  his  lap  and  falters :  "  Mercy ! 
I  am  so  accustomed  to  do  just  what  I  like." 

He  knows  it  is  full  surrender  now;  fehat  while  the 
lovely  culprit  fears  his  discipline  she  has  resigned  her- 
self to  his  rule.  She  is  even  giving  to  him  her  men- 
tality. 

The  scoundrel's  tone  becomes  clerical ;  he  shudders : 
"  Such  a  contemptible  sin,  a  lie  to  the  husband  who 
adores  you " 

"  Yes,  Arthur,"  she  breaks  in,"  'twas  ignominious. 
"  I  have  repented  every  moment  since  my  lips  uttered 
it.  Correct  me  for  it,  but  don't  make  me  writhe  with 
shame  under  your  merciless  words." 

And  in  her  abasement  at  what  she  considers  an  ig- 
noble sin  this  religiously  aesthetic  emotional  creature 
hides  her  head  to  receive  her  condemnation. 

"  Flora,"  he  says  in  solemn  contemplation,  "  I  must 
put  sufficient  penance  upon  you  to  make  you  both  re- 
gret and  remember  your  disobedience  and  deceit.  " 

"  Yes — I —  deserve  that,"  she  murmurs. 

"  Very  well,  then  at  Kau-lung  you  must  not  leave 
the  house  without  my  permission  or  escort." 

"  Goodness  how  careful  you're  going  to  be  of  me !  " 
cries  Flora.  Her  brown  eyes  grow  radiant.  She  looks 
archly  at  her  husband  and  whispers :  "  I  shall  not  com- 
plain as  long  as  you  love  me ;  and  this  proves  you  are 
jealous  as  a  Turk,  Arthur."  There  is  a  kind  of  tri- 
umph in  her  voice.  Then  she  suddenly  falters :  "  You 
are  going  to  lock  me  up  ? " 


104  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  No ;  your  promise  will  be  sufficient.  But  that  I 
must  have ! " 

"  It  is  yours !"  she  says  simply,  and  gives  it  to  him 
with  a  kiss. 

"  Thank  you,"  he  replies,  and  plays  another  most 
wily  card :  "  Now  run  away  and  put  on  another 
frock !  "  he  commands.  "  I  couldn't  bear  to  see  you 
on  your  wedding  day  in  a  toilette  you  had  arranged  for 
the  eyes  of  one  man  and  soiled  by  keeping  an  appoint- 
ment with  another — and  neither  of  them,  I." 

"  Are  you  so  sentimental  as  all  that  ?  " 

"  About  you  I'm  the  most  sentimental  beggar  on 
earth ! " 

"  Oh  Arthur !  "  His  culprit  bride  throws  her  arms 
about  the  astute  scoundrel's  neck,  and  whispers:  "  I'm 
so  glad  you've  got  me.  I  shall  pray  to-night  for  God 
to  make  me  worthy  of  so  good  a  man  as  you,"  and  so 
runs  away  leaving  her  scalawag  bridegroom  victorious 
but  astounded. 

"  By  Tophet !"  he  mutters.  "  Imogene  is  a  deep  one. 
No  gossip  '11  make  Flora  think  badly  of  me  now ;  I've 
got  my  lady  as  tight  as  a  drum.  She'll  surrender  her 
bank  accounts  as  docilely  as  she  has  herself."  To  this 
he  adds  after  a  little  contemplation :  "  To-morrow  I'll 
interview  that  -illain  Li  Wong  Chieun,  but  it  won't  be 
without  he  comes  down  handsomely  in  advance  that 
I'll  see  that  Uncle  Boardy  and  Cousin  Eira  go  to 
Peking,  don't  yer  know."  And  strolling  to  the  side- 
board, takes  a  long  drink  of  brandy  and  feels  quite 
happy  and  contented — even  virtuous. 

Upon  these  meditations  a  servant  intrudes  bearing  a 
card. 

"  Ah,"  says  the  bridegroom,  "  Captain  Katsuma. 
Show  him  in  boy." 

And  the  servitor  having  departed,  he  meditates  sus- 
piciously :  "  Hang  the  Jap !  What  the  deuce  does  he 
want,  breaking  in  upon  a  married  man  in  the  first  two 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  10$ 

hours  of  his  honeymoon !  "  but  rises  affably,  to  greet  the 
entering  officer. 

"  You  will  excuse  my  intrusion  upon  a  matter  that 
is  very  urgent  and  perhaps  quite  momentous  to  you, 
Mr.  Passmere,"  says  the  captain  in  courteous  anxiety. 
"  Mr.  Boardman  tells  me  that  you've  just  married  his 
niece  under  whose  protection  he  had  intended  to  leave 
his  daughter  while  he  visited  Peking." 

"  Yes,  I  did  the  trick  like  a  flash  this  morning," 
answers  Arthur  proudly. 

"  You're  very  fortunate,"  remarks  the  Japanese  re- 
membering the  radiant  and  coquettish  loveliness  of  the 
erstwhile  Mrs.  Elton  and  thinking  of  her  numerous 
admirers  the  preceding  evening. 

"  Yes,  blundered  through,  old  fellow,  just  like  Rob- 
erts, Baden-Powell  and  all  our  other  heroes ;  blundered 
through — right  at  the  end !  "  cries  the  adventurer 
cheerfully. 

"  Blundered  through ! "  gasps  the  military  man. 
"  Why,  you  are  speaking  of  one  of  the  greatest  tacti- 
cians of  our  age  and  a  very  stout  hero  who  made  a  lone 
bush-town  in  the  desert  into  a  citadel  that  could  stand 
a  siege ;  though  the  rumored  relief  of  Mafeking  is  again 
contradicted." 

"  Yes,  but  I  flatter  myself  if  they  knew  how  deftly 
I'd  carried  on  my  campaign,  both  Roberts  and  Baden- 
Powell  would  be  mightily  complimented,  don't  yer  see." 
To  this  he  adds  easily :  "  But  Mr.  Boardman  need 
have  no  anxiety  about  his  daughter.  Cousin  Eira  can 
accompany  us.  In  a  few  days  I  take  my  wife  and 
child  to  Peking." 

"  To  Peking !  "  echoes  the  Japanese,  a  look  of  great 
concern  flashing  upon  his  face.  "  That's  what  I  came 
to  speak  to  you  about.  I  implore  you  to  let  your  wife 
remain  here;  with  Miss  Boardman  under  her  protec- 
tion. Take  my  advice  and  keep  away  from  the  Celes- 
tial capital." 

"  But  I  can't,  my  dear  fellow.    I've  got  to  go  on  to 


106  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

help  Sir  Claude  Macdonald.  These  blooming  Boxers 
are  getting  quite  obnoxious,  can't  yer  see." 

"  Then  at  least  leave  your  bride  behind  you." 

"  Thank  you,  I'm  much  too  fly  for  that,  my  dear 
fellow,  don't  yer  understand." 

"  But  you  don't  understand.  Even  to-day  not  a 
woman  should  be  in  the  Peking  legations." 

These  words,  make  Passmere  fear  that  it  may  not 
be  easy  to  induce  the  American  to  take  his  daughter 
to  the  Chinese  capital. 

"  Oh  you  mean  outbreak,  massacre  and  all  that  kind 
of  thing,"  he  remarks  easily.  "  That's  been  chanted  by 
every  missionary  in  China  for  the  last  thirty  years  and 
now  you  commence  to  sing  the  same  psalm  too.  We 
English  diplomats  can  separate  the  chaff  from  the 
wheat,  don't  yer  know." 

"  Did  Sir  Louis  Cavagnari,  the  most  astute  East- 
ern diplomat  England  ever  had,  discover  Afghan 
treachery  in  time  to  save  himself  and  his  hundred  le- 
gation attaches  from  massacre?  Did  your  Indian 
government  believe  in  the  Sepoy  uprising  until  it  was 
too  late?  You  English  only  see  things  after  they  have 
happened." 

"  And  you  Eastern  people  are  too  timid,"  sneers  the 
no-nation  rascal. 

"  If  common  sense  means  timidity,  I  am.  But  God 
seems  to  watch  over  you,"  returns  the  Japanese. 
'  You  Saxons  blunder  and  blunder  through.  You 
are  just  blundering  through  again  in  the  Trans- 
vaal, which  between  ourselves  has  hastened  the  coming 
of  this  Chinese  crisis.  You  seem  to  be  rather  happy 
about  it  because  it  shows  your  pluck ;  because  you  can 
lose  a  good  deal  more  than  is  necessary  and  still  keep 
on  and  win.  Therefore  many  gallant  men  go  to  death 
who  might  live  long  and  happily  and  die  in  the  arms 
of  their  kindred." 

"  Yes — yes ;  we  generally  hit  it  all  right  in  the  end, 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  107 

old  fellow,"  says  Passmere  confidently.  Then  the  as- 
tute scoundrel  becomes  noble  in  his  bearing.  "  Be- 
sides I've  got  to  go,"  he  says  determinedly.  "  A  diplo- 
mat's duty  is  to  be  at  his  post  just  as  well  as  a  soldier's, 
land  go  I  must ;  just  the  same  as  you'd  charge  a  battery 
if  you  knew  it  meant  death !  " 

Here  an  agonized  woman  comes  flying  out  to  them. 
Her  excited  eyes  have  in  them  wifely  devotion.  She 
puts  her  arms  about  her  husband's  waist,  and  says: 
"  If  there's  any  danger  in  the  Chinese  capital,  I  go  with 
you  are  all  the  more,  my  husband !  Captain  Katsuma, 
nothing  can  keep  me  from  Arthur's  side  except  his 
positive  and  absolute  command." 

"  By  George,  I  think  she  has  answered  you !  "  says 
the  schemer  quietly.  "  The  ladies  have  not  been  sent 
away  from  the  legations.  Were  I  to  leave  my  wife 
behind,  it  might  be  a  sign  we  feared  these  Boxers  and 
have  a  bad  effect." 

"  Still,  Mrs.  Passmere,"  expostulates  Osuri,  "  if  you 
don't  remain  Mr.  Boardman  has  no  one  with  whom  to 
leave  his  daughter." 

Then  leading  the  young  husband  aside,  he  whispers 
to  him:  "  You  should  think  of  your  wife.  By  Izanagi, 
man,  remember  Cawnpoor!" 

"  You  should  not  try  to  frighten  her,"  answers  Ar- 
thur sternly. 

"  He  can't  frighten  me,  with  you  by  my  side,"  cries 
Flora  who  guesses  the  import  of  Osuri's  whisper. 

"  Then  in  that  case  I  have  nothing  more  to  say,"  re- 
marks the  Japanese  sadly  and  bows  himself  out. 

As  the  door  closes,  her  child  coming  into  her  mind, 
Flora  queries  anxiously :  "  You  don't  think  there  is 
any  real  danger  ?  " 

"  Not  a  rap !  "  answers  Passmere.  "  I've  had  a 
pretty  long  Oriental  experience.  The  Jap  simply  went 
off  on  a  bat  last  night  and  this  morning  has  lost  his 
nerve.  Too  much  samshoo,  sake,  and  all  that  sort  of 
thing,  don't  yer  know.  Hang  it,  the  idea  of  trying  to 
frighten  a  man  on  his  wedding  day ! " 


Io8  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

Mr.  Passmere  lazily  lighting  a  cigar,  sinks  languidly 
into  a  chair ;  for  at  that  time,  no  one  in  Hong  Kong  or 
for  that  matter  few  in  Peking  itself,  had  much  thought 
of  danger  to  the  legations  in  the  Chinese  capital. 

To  him,  his  bride  steps  bashfully  and  placing  a  con- 
fiding arm  about  his  neck  whispers  nervously :  "  You — 
you  must  not  think  Arthur  I  went  into  heroics  to  avoid 
your  righteous  correction !  " 

"  Not  a  bit !  "  he  replies,  affably  pinching  her  ear. 
Then  her  exquisite  beauty  appealing  to  this  scoundrel 
he  takes  his  victim  in  his  arms  and  knows  he  has 
"blundered  through"  very  right  with  Flora. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

HIS  LITTLE  MISSIONARY  GIRL. 

But  the  Japanese  captain  is  not  so  placid  about  the 
Peking  situation  as  Mr.  Passmere.  He  walks  from  the 
bridegroom's  apartments,  the  anxiety  on  his  face  for 
the  moment  almost  obliterating  its  melancholy.  Sud- 
denly the  sharp  boom  of  a  steamer's  gun  brings  his 
passion  and  his  despair  home  to  him. 

Gazing  from  the  corridors  of  the  Peak  Hotel  he  sees 
the  City  of  Rio. Janeiro  anchoring  in  the  roads,  and 
shudders:  ""By  Heaven,  Jim  is  here  to  take  to  his 
bosom  the  flower  of  my  life !  " 

Then  temptation  comes  upon  him.  A  big  white 
steamer  is  also  in  the  roads.  The  red  and  blue  top  to 
her  white  smokestacks  indicates  that  she  is  an  Ameri- 
can transport. 

"  The  man  of  Eira  Boardman's  choice  is  first  and  last 
a  soldier.  His  orders  probably  read  'forthwith'.  I 
have  only  to  tell  Pills,"  thinks  Osuri,  "  that  he  can 
catch  the  Meade,  and  in  his  eagerness  to  obey  orders, 
he  will  take  boat  to  her,  and  never  putting  foot  ashore, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  log 

unknowingly  leave  Eira  Boardman  as  he  journeys  to 
Luzon.  There  perchance  in  some  swamp  ambush  a 
Tagal  bolo  will  leave  my  goddess  free."  But  he  fights 
this  down,  shuddering:  "  Traitor  to  her,  traitor  to  my 
comrade ;  no,  no !  Yet  by  every  god  Eira  shall  not  go 
to  Peking.  Jim  Ingraham  is  the  only  man  who  can 
prevent  it !  "  next  sighs :  "  Oh,  goddess  of  my  unkind 
fate,  I  am  putting  you  in  his  arms." 

As  if  fearing  himself,  he  hurriedly  takes  the  tram- 
car  down  the  hill,  and  riksha  from  the  Glenealy  Ravine 
to  the  Hong  Kong  Hotel.  A  moment  after,  accompa- 
nied by  his  boy  Saraki,  to  assist  in  handling  Ingra- 
ham's  hand  baggage,  he  steps  down  to  Pedder's  Wharf. 
Here  near  the  waiting  crowd  he  sees  the  face  that  is  to 
him  the  fairest  upon  earth,  made  radiant  by  the  sun- 
shine of  a  coming  lover.  Miss  Boardman  is  seated  in  a 
riksha,  somewhat  out  of  the  general  concourse. 

On  seeing  the  Japanese,  for  a  moment  a  shade  of 
sadness  tempers  the  joy  upon  her  expressive  features. 
Then  with  a  pleasant  smile  that  has  in  it  a  touch  of  em- 
barrassed apology  to  make  it  more  deliciously  piquant, 
she  beckons  in  easy  young  lady  American  manners  to 
the  man  whose  passionate  declaration  she  had  so  deftly 
stayed,  so  absolutely  barred  but  a  few  hours  before, 
and  says  in  charming  voice :  "  Good  morning  Captain 
Katsuma,  I've  an  errand  for  you."  Unintention- 
ally she  is  more  fascinating  than  ever  to  this  gentle- 
man to  whom  every  charm,  every  beauty  is  now  a  tor- 
ture because  he  has  lost  them. 

For  a  moment  Katsuma  looks  embarrassed ;  then 
remembering  that  a  young  lady's  very  modesty  forbids 
her  to  recognize  an  unspoken  love;  and  that  conse- 
quently their  intercourse  may  still  remain  upon  the 
usual  lines,  he  steps  up  to  her  and  half  guessing  what 
the  errand  is,  takes  off  his  hat  and  replies:  "Good 
morning,  Miss  Boardman." 

Standing  besides  her  riksha,  he  knows  the  exquisite 
costume  from  fairy  foot-gear  to  big  white  parasol  has 


TANGLED  FLAGS. 

been  meant  to  make  her  beautiful  for  her  lover's  eyes. 
Catching  sight  of  some  orange  flowers  she  is  wearing 
in  her  bosom,  he  murmurs :  "  You  remember  Jim's 
favorite  ones." 

"  Don't  I !  "  And  Eira  Boardman's  eyes  have  again 
the  expression  that  racked  her  Japanese  adorer  the 
night  before. 

"  How  nice !  You're  down  to  meet  him,"  she  whis- 
pers, holding  out  a  tiny  gloved  hand,  and  in  the  care- 
lessness of  youth  and  joy  of  coming  lover,  adds: 
"  You're  going  on  board  the  City  of  Rio  Janeiro.  If 
etiquette  would  only  let  me  go  also !  But  you  will  bear 
him  my  message.  Tell  Jim  I  am  here  waiting  for  him. 
Ask  him  to  come  quick!" 

"  You  have  my  promise,"  mutters  the  Japanese. 
Glad  to  get  away  from  her  torturing  loveliness,  he 
hastily  takes  boat  to  the  City  of  Rio  Janeiro.  As  the 
steam  launch  dashes  through  the  water  recollections  of 
West  Point  comradeship,  of  how  this  man  had  stood  by 
him  when  he  was  a  stranger  in  an  unknown  land  and 
became  his  friend  of  friends,  covers  the  face  of  Osuri 
Katsuma  with  a  generous  devotion,  a  sad  self-sacrifice. 

This,  perchance,  is  heightened  as,  leaving  Saraki  in 
the  waiting  boat,  he  climbs  the  side-ladder  of  the  big 
steamer  and  is  greeted  by  a  cherry  voice  that  takes  him 
back  to  his  cadet  days  on  the  Hudson.  He  hears: 
"Hello,  Boom-de-rah;  I've  been  looking  for  you! 
They  told  me  in  Yokohama  you  were  here." 

"  By  Jove,  you're  just  the  same  old  Pills !  "  cries  the 
Japanese,  as  a  stalwart  form,  clad  in  United  States 
Army  blue,  with  two  or  three  athletic  strides  meets  him 
and  clasps  him  to  his  heart  midway  between  the 
steamer's  deck  and  the  water. 

"  I've  got  to  take  the  first  transport  to  Manila," 
whispers  the  American.  "  There's  one  with  steam  up 
now,  so  that  we  shall  not  have  more  than  half  an  hour 
together,  old  fellow." 

Again  the  fiend  is  at  Katsuma's  elbow.   He  has  but 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  Ill 

to  hold  his  tongue  and  Eira  Boardman  and  her  af- 
fianced are  separated — and  he  is  spared  an  agony. 

"  I  feared  that,"  replies  Osuri,  returning  the  young 
man's  grip  with  eager  clasp.  "  Show  me  your  state- 
room, I've  some  curious  news." 

On  deck,  the  American,  who  is  half  a  head  taller  than 
his  Japanese  friend  and  of  more  stalwart  build,  whis- 
pers, as  if  almost  ashamed  of  the  intensity  of  his 
affection :  "  Dear  old  Boom-de-rah  !  "  and  again  puts 
his  arm  around  the  waist  of  the  wiry  Osuri,  as  they 
march  off  together,  with  West  Point  stride,  to  his  cabin. 

Here  the  two  men  gaze  into  each  other's  faces,  their 
eyes  aglow  with  the  rejuvenated  friendship  of  their 
cadet  days,  and  give  each  other  another  hug.  Then 
the  Japanese  says,  slowly :  "  Pills,  I've  some  curious 
news  for  you." 

Something  in  his  voice  makes  Ingraham  start.  "  It 
is  not  bad  news  ?  "  he  asks.  "  You  got  no  cable  about 
my  father,  the  general  ?  " 

"Oh,  no,"  answers  the  other.  "  You  will  call  it  good 
news.  Miss — Miss  Boardman  is  in  Hong  Kong." 

"  Eira  here !  Bless  God !  "  cries  the  young  man. 
Osuri  can  see  his  strong  fingers  tremble  as  they  grip 
the  bunk  railing.  Then,  in  agitated  yet  eager  voice,  he 
continues :  "  I  knew  Boom-de-rah — she  was  some- 
where in  this  Eastern  world.  Sometimes  I  hoped  her 
father  might  take  her  to  Manila.  He  has  contracts 
I  with  the  American  government,  and  he  is  always  hunt- 
1  ing  for  more  dollars,  the  avaricious  old  beggar."  Sud- 
denly his  glance  becomes  questioning.  He  asks: 
"  How  did  you  know  Eira  Boardman  was  the  girl  I 
wrote  I'd  tell  you  about  ?  " 

"  From  her  own  lips,"  replies  Katsuma,  firmly.  "  She 
generously  told  me,  to- — to  put  me  on  my  guard." 

"  So  Eira  has  been  playing  with  Japanese  fire," 
smiles  her  affianced.  "  I'll  have  my  lady  up  at  punish- 
ment parade." 

"  For  God's  sake,  don't  say  an  unkind  word  to  her !  " 


112  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  Unkind  word  to  her,  when  I  haven't  kissed  her  for 
seven  months  !  "  cries  Jim,  his  eyes  big  with  love. 

Despite  himself  the  Japanese  winces. 

"  Unkind  word,  when  she  has  stood  by  me  through 
thick  and  thin  against  her  father?  Unkind  word  to  the 
girl — please  God — I'm  going  to  marry  ?  "  bursts  out 
the  American.  "  Where's  she  stopping  ?  You  held 
your  shoreboat  ?  "  he  queries  eagerly. 

"  Yes,"  answers  Osuri.  "  She's  at  the  Peak  Hotel. 
But  you  will  find  her  quite  near  the  landing  place,  if 
her  eyes  meant  anything  ten  minutes  ago." 

Hoopee!  Let's  get  on  the  shore  quick!"  The 
American  would  spring  from  his  cabin,  but  the  Japan- 
ese places  hand  on  his  arm,  and  whispers :  "  Not  till 
I  tell  you  something,  so  that  you  may  act  with  a  man's 
judgment  in  a  matter  that  affects  Mrs  Boardman's 
safety." 

"Safety!     She's  not  ill ?" 

"  Thank  God,  no !  " 

"  Then  what  danger  can  come  to  her?  " 

"  This !  "  The  tone  of  the  Japanese  is  very  solemn. 
"  Her  father  thinks  of  taking  her  to  Peking." 

"  That  city  is  healthy  enough,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  now.  But  it  will  soon  be  more  unsafe  than 
if  Eastern  cholera  or  the  plague  was  ravaging  it,"  an- 
swers the  Japanese  solemnly.  With  this  he  hurriedly 
explains  the  dangers  which  he  fears  may  come  to  all 
Europeans  in  the  Chinese  capital,  ending  his  explana- 
tion by  these  curious  words :  "  You  are  the  only  man, 
I  think,  can  prevent  your  betrothed  going  there." 

"  I  ?  Pish !  I'd  be  the  very  last  person  on  the  whole 
earth  whose  advice  her  father  would  take.  In  fact, 
on  our  final  meeting  the  cantankerous  old  brute  rather 
hinted  he  hoped  it  was  the  last  he'd  see  of  me,"  mut- 
tered the  young  man,  ruefully.  "  You  see,  he's  so 
very  rich ;  while  I'm  as  infamously  poor  as  any  officer 
in  the  service." 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  113 

"  Still,  you're  the  only  man  who  can  prevent  Eira 
Boardman  going  to  Peking." 

"How?" 

"  By — by  marrying  her."  The  words  seem  to  choke 
the  Japanese. 

"  Great  Scott !  "  mutters  Ingraham,  his  eyes  begin- 
ning to  blaze;  then  the  red  "flush  of  unexpected  happi- 
ness coming  over  his  face,  he  gasps :  "  By  Heaven, 
do  you  think  Eira  '11  do  it  without  her  father's 
consent?  " 

"  That  I  will  not  counsel.  The  obedience  of  a  child 
to  a  father  is  too  sacred  a  thing  to  be  broken  for  any 
lover,"  says  the  Shintoist,  reverently. 

"  Still  it  is  very  frequently  done  in  Yankeeland," 
suggests  the  American,  excitedly. 

"  Yes,  you're  an  impious  race,"  answers  Katsuma. 
"  Sometimes  I  wonder  the  gods  do  not  punish  the  ha- 
bitual disobedience  of  children  to  their  parents.  But 
perhaps  under  certain  circumstances  the  consent  of 
Mr.  Boardman  might  be  obtained." 

"  God  bless  you  for  saying  so.  You're  a  greater 
tactician  than  I  am,  if  you  can  produce  it." 

"  I'll  try,"  answers  the  Japanese,  shortly.  "  Some 
words  that  Miss  Boardman  spoke  to  me  yesterday 
hinted  that  this  was  in  her  mind  as  the  only  thing  that 
might  prevent  her  from  going  to  Peking.  I  wouldn't 
have  her  take  the  chances  of  a  fate  that  would  be  too 
horrible  to  think  of,"  shudders  the  young  man. 

Something  in  his  tone  makes  Ingraham  look  at  him 
sharply ;  he  says,  tenderly :  "  Boom-de-rah,  I  fear  my 
darling  has  wounded  a  very  noble  heart.  Trust  me, 
she  didn't  do  it  knowingly.  She's  not  that  kind  of  a 
girl." 

"  No,  Miss  Boardman  has  been  to  me  all  considera- 
tion, all  kindness,"  answers  Osuri,  slowly.  "  You  must 
not  blame  the  sun  for  shining,  Jim."  Looking  out  of 
the  window,  he  remarks :  "  The  Philippine  transport 


114  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

is  now  under  way.    You  couldn't  catch  the  Meade  if 
you  tried." 

"  My  orders  are  not  imperative.  I  wouldn't  try  to 
catch  her  now,"  answers  the  lieutenant,  his  eyes  flam- 
ing with  lover's  expectancy.  Running  up  the  com- 
panion way  to  the  deck,  he  cries :  "  Come  on !  "  and 
gazes  at  a  brilliant  sight,  the  deck  of  a  great  liner  put- 
ting off  its  passengers  in  Hong  Kong  Roads.  The 
ladies  dressed  in  light,  tropical,  going-ashore  toilettes, 
the  gentlemen  in  white  flannels,  ducks,  nanquins,  pith- 
helmets,  havelocks  and  other  tropical  devices  give  a 
light  vivacity  and  delicate  color  to  the  scene.  From 
the  crowds  of  shore  boats,  sampans  and  steam-launches 
gathered  about  the  big  side  ladder,  soliciting  "  make- 
a-suitie-sixey-dollar"  tailors,  the  advance  agents  of 
ambitious  shirt  makers  and  beseeching  three  tael  por- 
trait painters  furnish  the  noise. 

In  this  conglomerate,  as  Osuri  and  his  friend  are 
approaching  the  ship's  side,  a  petitely  dainty  young 
lady  lays  detaining  hand  upon  the  lieutenant,  and  in  a 
helpless  voice,  bell-like  yet  pleading,  murmurs : 
"  Jim — I  mean  Mr.  Ingraham,  don't  forget  your 
promise  to  look  after  my  baggage !"  ? 

"  Oh,  ah,  yes ;  of  course,  Miss  Imogene !  "  and 
seeming  slightly  embarrassed,  the  handsome  American 
officer  is  compelled  to  stay  his  steps. 

This  will  delay  Ingraham's  meeting  with  Miss 
Boardman.  For  a  moment  the  swaying  crowd  about 
the  gangway  separates  them  from  the  lady.  Taking 
advantage  of  this,  the  Japanese  promptly  whispers  in 
the  American's  ear :  "  Introduce  me ;  I'll  take  care 
of  her.  Jump  down  into  a  shore  boat.  You'll  find  Eira 
in  one  of  the  rikshas  on  the  Praya,  to  the  left.  Take 
her  up  to  the  Botanical  Gardens.  I'll  join  you  there 
afterwards." 

"  Yes,  but  don't  follow  me  too  soon,"  laughs  the 
lieutenant,  putting  an  arrow  into  his  comrade's  heart. 

"A  moment  later,  elbowing  his  way  through  the 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  «3 

throng,  Ingraham  says:  "  Miss  Passmere,  let  me  pre- 
sent my  old  West  Point  chum,  Captain  Katsuma,  of 
the  Japanese  Army.  He  understands  Hong  Kong, 
and  will  look  after  your  luggage  much  better  than  I 
can.  By  the  bye,  Osuri,  Miss  Imogene  is  called  on 
board  our  little  missionary  girl." 

Katsuma  doesn't  quite  catch  the  name,  but  finds 
himself  gazing  at  a  petite  face  of  at  times  a  weirdly 
pathetic  beauty,  which  is,  perhaps,  increased  by  the 
fragile  figure  that  supports  it.  For  the  lady,  who  is 
somewhat  under  the  medium  height,  seems  very  daint- 
ily developed;  though  every  line  in  her  figure  is  a 
beauty  curve. 

A  young  Chinese  amah,  or  maid,  dressed  after  the 
European  style  in  a  light  blue  calico,  and  whom  she 
addresses  as  Lie-lie  holds  a  big  white  parasol  over  her 
mistress's  head  and  watches  eagerly  for  any  command 
from  Miss  Imogene,  who  is  now  seated  languidly  on  a 
campstool,  yet  using  her  fan  vivaciously. 

Judging  from  the  lady's  manner  that  she  is  not  going 
to  allow  Ingraham  to  escape  very  easily,  the  Japanese 
suddenly  suggests :  "  But  you'd  better  hurry  on  shore, 
Pills,  and  answer  that  important  business  cable  at 
once." 

At  this  hint,  before  he  can  be  stayed,  Jim  disappears 
like  a  flash  down  the  side  ladder. 

"  Oh,  mercy,  what  a  fib,  Captain  Katsuma,"  pouts 
the  missionary  maiden,  giving  him  an  elfin  glance. 
Pleased  at  her  own  shrewdness,  she  giggles :  "  An 
'  important  business  cable  and  Jim?"  Into  her  bluish 
gray  eyes  fly  two  sparks  of  subtle  passion;  her  thin 
lips  tremble,  then  angrily  compressed  together,  be- 
come two  red,  threatening  lines.  She  asks,  almost 
pathetically :  "  Does  an  important  business  cable  mean 
a  lady?" 

As  he  looks  on  her,  Katsuma  knows  his  handsome 
chum  is  the  favorite  with  at  least  two  ladies  in  Hong 
Kong,  and  that  this  one  brought  by  the  Rio  Janeiro 


Il6  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

considers  she  has  a  very  pertinent  claim  upon  the  dash- 
ing lieutenant,  probably  born  of  moonlight  walks  upon 
the  promenade  deck,  tete-a-tetes  in  retired  nooks,  be- 
hind wind  sails,  ventilating  funnels  or  deck  houses,  in- 
creased, perhaps,  by  a  Yokohama  excursion  along  the 
Tokiado  and  a  riksha  ride  in  Nagasaki. 

Therefore  the  captain  judges  it  wise  to  parry  the 
query  by  jeering:  "  For  a  missionary  girl,  you  seem 

to  know  too  much  of  mundane  affairs,  Miss "  He 

has  not  caught  the  name,  though  something  in  the 
lady's  appearance  seems  familiar  to  him.  So  much  so 
that  he  is  trying  to  recollect  where  he  met  her. 

"  Oh,  you  must  not  pay  any  attention  to  Jim's  non- 
sense," she  half  laughs.  "  I'm  no  more  a  missionary 
girl  than  he  is.  I  only  think  I  may  like  to  be  a  mis- 
sionary maid  under  certain  circumstances.  I  have 
tried  so  many  walks  in  life,  painting,  sculpture,  music, 
etc.  Once  I  nearly  put  my  little  foot  upon  the  stage." 
She  exhibits  the  tip  of  a  minute  bottine  and  rolls  a  pair 
of  large,  pathetic,  languishing  yet  searching  eyes  upon 
the  Japanese. 

Glancing  at  her,  the  Japanese  knows  she  is  arrayed 
as  no  missionary  girl  was  ever  robed  before.  The 
affair  which  drapes  her  figure  is  simple,  light,  fluffy, 
and  white  as  snow,  with  just  two  patches  of  color  in 
it — at  neck  and  waist — and  is  a  marvel  from  Felix. 
Osuri  does  not  appreciate  this  in  its  entirety,  but  he  has 
had  enough  experience  to  be  aware  that  the  young 
lady's  decking  would  make  too  big  a  hole  in  pious  con- 
tribution boxes  for  a  missionary  maiden  to  sport  such 
a  frock. 

Having  become  tired  of  this  world,  I  even  tried  the 
excitement  of  being  a  recluse  in  Europe,"  she  sighs. 
"  But  fasting  fatiguing  me,  I  thought  I  might  test 
whether  mission  life  had  in  it  the  balm  of  forgetful- 
ness."  Though  her  speech  is  vivacious  and  her  ges- 
tures sprightly  and  agile,  most  of  the  time  her  gaze 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  117 

seems  to  be  followi»g  the  steam  launch  that  is  taking 
Ingraham  to  the  shore. 

"  I  suppose  there  are  no  heathens  to  convert  in  your 
own  country  ?  "  sneers  Katsuma,  attempting  to  divert 
her  thoughts  from  the  lieutenant. 

"  Yes,  but  not  interesting  ones — like  you,  for  in- 
stance. "  I'm  an  American ;  there's  no  romance  in  an 
East-side  New  York  rough  or  a  Salvation  Army  hobo. 
But  in  the  storied  Orient,  among  pagodas  and  incense, 
and,  perhaps" her  eyes  enlarge  with  emotional  ex- 
citement, her  hands  wave  dramatically — "  perhaps  hu- 
man sacrifice,  I  might  probably  find  a  nepenthe,  a 
vocation.  Who  knows  but  that  I  might  perhaps  convert 
even  YOU,  she  laughs.  "  You're  a  Shintoist,  Buddhist 
or  some  other  kind  of  heathen,  ain't  you,  Captain  Kat- 
suma? Jim  said  you  were.  He  told  me  all  about  you 
when  he  tried  to  look  you  up  at  Yokohama." 

This  is  interpersed  at  various  times  by  pleasant 
adieux  to  departing  passengers,  the  little  lady  seeming 
to  be  very  popular  on  board  the  Rio  de  Janeiro;  and 
varied  by  pert,  parenthetic  cries  to  the  ship-boys,  who 
seem  to  adore  her :  "  Yes  Khy,  that's  my  trunk !  " 
"  And  Sam,  those  two  large  boxes  and  that  umbrella !  " 
'  Thank  you,  Lee,  that's  my  valise  and  bonnet  boxes." 
"  Here,  you  stupid  Yeck,  leave  my  Bible  case  open ;  I 
might  like  to  give  one  to  Captain  Katsuma."  This 
last  is  uttered  with  a  roguish  laugh. 

Placing  a  dainty  hand  upon  the  Japanese  officer's 
arm,  she  suggests :  "  You're  not  going  to  tell  me  why 
Jim  has  left  me  in  the  lurch?  I  see — military  faith,  I 
presume — so  I  shall  find  that  out  myself."  Then,  dis- 
appointment rippling  her  fayish  features,  she  mur- 
murs to  the  skipper  of  the  boat,  who  is  offering  her 
some  sea-dog  attention :  "  It's  strange  my  brother 
isn't  here  to  meet  me !  " 

As  she  speaks,  the  Japanese  who  has  missed  her 
name  in  hurried  introduction,  and  has  been  trying  to 
remember  where  he  has  seen  her,  now  suddenly  wakes 


Il8  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

up,  and  inquires :    "  You're  Mr.  Passmere's  sister,  are 
you  not  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes ;    that  lazy  Arthur  should  be  down  to 
meet  me.     I  cabled  him  from  Nagasaki." 
|     "  Then  I  have  some  startling  news  for  you." 
I     "  Not  bad  news  ?  "  she  gasps.    Imogene's  eyes  have 
terror  in  them.    Though  her  sins  are  many,  she  loves 
this  scoundrel  brother  as  only  two  scalawags,  with  the 
world  against  them;  can  love  each  other. 

"  No !  Judging  by  his  radiant  happiness  but  half  an 
hour  ago,  your  brother  thinks  it's  the  best  news  in  the 
world.  This  morning,  quite  suddenly,  he  married  a 
Mrs.  Elton." 

"  O — o — o — h  !  "  This  is  a  little  purr,  perhaps  of 
astonishment,  perhaps  of  delight.  "  Married  Flora !  " 

"  You  seem  to  know  her  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I — I  met  her  in  Europe.  I  understood  from 
her  she  was  coming  to  the  East  with  her  uncle,  the 
great  arms  manufacturer  and  his  daughter.  No  won- 
der Arthur  isn't  here  to  meet  me.  I  suppose  he  has 
taken  his  bride  over  to  his  villa,  at  Kau-lung.  I — I 
shall  have  to  hunt  him  up  there.'* 

"  Very  well,  I'll  put  you  on  board  a  steam-launch  and 
make  all  the  arrangements  for  you,"  says  the  Japanese. 

"  Do  that  for  me,  and  I'm  perfectly  able  to  take 
care  of  myself.  I — I  know  China  very  well."  The 
lady  pauses  and  bites  her  lip. 

"  Yes,  I've  noticed  that  you  spoke  to  two  or  three  of 
the  ship's  boys  a  few  words  of  Mandarin.  Besides,  your 
amah." 

"  Yes,  I  visited  my  brother  in  Central  China  for  sev- 
eral years.  That's  where  I  picked  up  Lie-lie.  You 
know  Arthur  is  a — a  diplomat,"  replies  Miss  Pass- 
mere.  That's  one  thing  that  made  me  think  of  becom- 
ing a  Chinese  missionary. 

"  Now,  Lie-lie,  look  out  sharp  for  my  hand-bag- 
gage ! "  Her  tone  is  harsh ;  and  her  maid  answers 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  119 

abjectly  and  nervously:   "Yes,  missie,  me  belly  care- 
ful !  " 

Then  the  young  lady's  voice  becomes  soft,  suave  and 
affable.  "  Thank  you,  that's  very  nice,"  she  remarks, 
as  Captain  Katsuma  assists  'her  down  the  side  ladder 
and  puts  her  into  a  boat. 

Sitting  in  its  stern-sheets,  she  looks  at  Osuri  quiz- 
zically, and  again  asks :  "  You — you  won't  tell  me  the 
lady's  name  ?  " 

"What  lady?" 

"  The  one  that  Jim  left  my  side  so  hurriedly  to  see, 
the  one  that  in  your  cipher  code  is  designated  as  a  busi- 
ness cable !  Trust  the  little  missionary  girl  for  know- 
ing something."  This  is  said  half  laughingly,  though 
her  bright  eyes  are  troubled  as  she  waves  a  piquant 
parasol  towards  Katsuma  as  the  boat  darts  towards 
Kan-lung. 

Gazing  after  her,  the  Japanese  officer  has  a  per- 
plexed look  upon  his  face.  He  does  not  like  her  severe 
tone  as  she  addressed  her  Chinese  girl,  or  the  abject 
attitude  of  her  maid.  Incidentally  he  thinks  it  curious 
that  this  young  lady  who  calls  herself  an  American  is 
the  sister  of  a  man  who  purports  to  be  a  British  diplo- 
mat. But  this  is  dwarfed  by  the  consideration  that 
Eira  Boardman's  affianced  has  another  young  lady 
string  to  his  bow.  "  By  Heaven,  if  he  has  been  un-' 
true — if  Eira  should  have  ground  to  discard  him?  "  A 
mighty  hope  flies  up  in  him !  Then  he  throws  it  away 
with  :  "  Jim  is  not  that  kind." 

Suddenly  the  soft  Nihonese  voice  of  Saraki  whispers 
in  his  ear :  "  Have  a  care,  I  pray  you  daimio  of  my 
heart — that  woman  !  "  . 

"  What  woman  ?  "  mutters  Osuri,  turning  sharply  on 
his  faithful  attendant,  who  has  just  come  down  the 
side  ladder,  laden  with  Ingraham's  hand  baggage. 

"  The  lady  in  white,  who  is  in  the  steam-launch  and 
seems  being  blown  away  by  the  soft  breezes.  She 
looks  like  the  lovesick,  despairing  girls  who  sneak  out 


120  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

when  darkness  comes  upon  the  earth  and  by  the  ushi 
toki  mairi,  done  unto  the  sacred  rice-wreathed  trees 
bring  the  kami  to  destroy  their  recreant  lovers." 

"  Pish,  her  recreant  lover  is  neither  you  nor  I,  Sar- 
aki !  "  jeers  his  master,  savagely. 

"  Isn't  it?  As  I  thought  the  thought,  she  waved  her 
fan  towards  us  both." 

"  Djodann  bakari!  You  are  as  full  of  the  supersti- 
tions of  old  Japan  as  a  bombshell  is  of  powder,"  sneers 
Osuri.  "  Look  out  and  get  the  valises  into  the  boat !  " 

"  All  the  same,  dear  master,  this  is  one  of  my 
yaku-doshi  or  evil  years,  and  a  ghost  whispered  to 
me,  as  I  gazed  upon  the  white-robed  woman,  that  she 
would  do  my  life  from  me,  or  I  hers  from  her — or 
she  yours  from  you  or  you ' 

"  Gods  and  devils,  Saraki !  "  snarls  his  master,  "  get 
into  that  boat  or  I'll  throw  you  and  your  superstitions 
into  the  sea !  " 

"  To  hear  is  to  obey."  And  the  faithful  Nihonese 
boy  is  in  the  boat,  his  body  prostrate,  his  head  pressed 
down  upon  the  thwart. 

Landing  at  Kau-lung,  Miss  Passmere  apparently 
thinking  her  visit  to  her  brother  will  be  a  short  one, 
holds  the  steam-launch,  leaving  her  maid  in  charge  of 
her  impedimenta.  Once  on  her  way  towards  Arthur's 
hill-side  villa,  Miss  Imogene  utters  a  fairy  laugh,  and 
twice  gazing  across  the  blue  water  towards  Victoria, 
her  lips  quiver,  her  big  gray  eyes  grow  agonized  and 
teary. 

The  day  though  hot  is  balmy  in  this  suburb  of  Vic- 
toria. The  soft  southwest  monsoon  plays  with  acacias, 
palms,  fig  trees,  and  bastard  banyans  in  the  garden  of 
Mr.  Passmere's  white-walled  villa.  After  dangling 
with  the  awnings  over  its  wide  verandas,  the  breeze 
floats  in  through  the  open  windows,  delicious  with  the 
smell  of  myriad  flowers. 

Upon  this  veranda  Arthur  quite  shortly  meets  and 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  121 

welcomes  his  sister,  who  gives  him,  a  pretty  kiss  and 
whispers :  "  Delighted  to  hear  you've  caught  her." 

The  bridegroom  knows  what  she  means,  and  grins 
triumphantly  as  he  returns,  sotto  voce :  "  Yes,  Flora's 
upstairs.  I  married  her  five  hours  ago — and  with- 
out settlements!" 

"  Oh,  you  astute  darling,"  purrs  the  young  lady. 
"  So  you've  captured  her  to  the  last  penny." 

"  Absolutely !  I've  her  purse  in  my  pocket  now," 
laughs  Arthur.  "  She  surrendered  it  in  a  fit  of  peni- 
tence." And  the  two  hold  cautious  converse  together. 

"  You  were  perfectly  right  in  your  suggestion  as  to 
the  proper  means  of  governing  her,"  remarks  the  bride- 
groom, and  amuses  his  sister  by  a  quick  and  racy 
account  of  Flora's  flirtations,  lie  and  penitent 
atonement. 

"  Ah,  glad  to  see  you're  beginning  so  well  with 
her,"  giggles  his  sister.  Then  her  tone  becomes  se- 
rious, she  adds :  "A  word  to  you  Arthur,  the  sharper 
you  are  with  Flora  the  more  pliable  you'll  find  her. 
She  should  be  permitted  no  pocket  money  whatever, 
and  be  compelled  to  come  to  you  for  every  little  want. 
Any  indulgence  should  be  granted  to  her  not  as  a 
right  but  as  a  favor.  With  funds  in  her  possession, 
should  she  ever  doubt  your  love,  you  might  find  her 
decidedly  too  independent." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  like  her,"  remarks  the  bride- 
groom. 

"  Oh,  I  have  no  like  nor  dislike  now  with  regard  to 
Flora.  Yesterday  I  perhaps  envied  Mrs.  Elton  as  a 
magnificently  handsome,  and  very  rich  woman. 
Now  I  simply  regard  Flora  as  your  personal  property, 
my  brother,  and  as  such  to  be  used  for  your  benefit 
and — incidentally — for  mine.  The  reason  of  my  advice 
is  simply  that  Flora  may  be  so  governed  that  she  will 
be  of  the  least  trouble  and  the  greatest  value  to  you." 

"  But  still,"  smiles  Arthur,  sarcastically,  "  I  think 


122  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

by  some  means,  in  Europe,  Mrs.  Elton  must  have  of- 
fended my  little  sister." 

Then  a  slight  suggestion  of  the  character  of  Miss 
Imogene  Tracey  Passmere  comes  into  view.  Two  lit- 
tle red  flames  flicker  over  the  lilies  of  her  elfin  cheeks ; 
she  whispers :  "  Since  you  are  so  astute,  Arthur,  I'll 
own  that  Mrs.  Elton  once  did  me  an  injury,  perhaps 
unwittingly.  But  you  know  I  never  forgive." 

"  By  Heavens,  were  you  rivals  for  the  affections 
of  the  Reverend  Vestry  Stole?"  frowns  Arthur. 

"  Never  you  mind  what  it  was,"  replies  the  fairy 
airily,  "  but  I  can  tell  you  this  much :  Flora  can  no 
more  help  flirting  than  she  can  breathing.  She'd  had 
a  great  affair  with  Baron  somebody  or  other,  and  that 
was  the  reason  for  her  penitential  retreat."  Imogene 
smiles  as  she  notes  her  brother's  eyes  flame  savagely, 
and  knows  she  has  thrown  a  few  brambles  into  the 
very  narrow  penitential  path  the  unfortunate  bride  will 
have  to  tread.  "  I  only  hint  this  to  you  so  that  you 
will  know  how  to  deal  with  her,"  she  remarks,  quietly. 
"  After  a  little  I'll  come  back  and  help  you  take  care  of 
her.  I  don't  suppose  you'll  want  me  here  for  a  few 
days.  Besides,  I  have  an  errand  in  Victoria,  so  I'll  run 
over  to  the  Peak  Hotel  and  take  charge  of  Harold. 
Flora  will  consider  it  a  favor.  Mercy,  how  secretive 
the  minx  was.  As  a  widow  she  never  hinted  to  me 
once  she  had  a  child.  If  you  don't  mind  bringing  your 
prize  down,  I'll  give  her  a  sister's  kiss  and  go  my 
way.  By-the-bye,  can't  you  have  tea  served  out  on  the 
veranda  here.  You  know  Young  Hyson  is  my  favorite 
afternoon  tipple,"  she  laughs. 

"  Certainly,  my  dear,"  replies  her  brother.  "  You'll 
want  some  money  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes,  a  little  on  account.  You  say  you've  no- 
tified Flora's  Hong  Kong  bankers.  You  can  draw  a 
check. 

"  Yes,  but  I've  enough  here,"  and  Arthur,  produc- 
ing the  purse  of  the  former  Mrs.  Elton,  passes  over  to 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  123 

his  sister,  who  had  aided  him  in  her  capture,  a  goodly 
portion  of  Flora's  surrendered  bank  notes.  For  these 
two  are  altogether  too  far-sighted  to  squabble  over 
their  plunder — a  thing  that  brings  more  villains  to 
grief  than  almost  any  other  defect  in  villains'  char- 
acters. 

So  Passmere  leaves  the  young  lady  counting  her 
money  and  meditating  upon  some  problem.  Finally 
she  murmurs  to  her  crafty  self:  "Lieutenant  Fast- 
and-loose,  except  when  he  fought  in  Cuba,  has  never 
bee,n  out  of  the  United  States.  My  rival,  most  prob- 
ably, is  an  American  girl.  These  should  be  few  in 
Hong  Kong.  Flora,  through  Miss  Boardman,  should 
know  them  all.  I'll  question  her." 

A  few  minutes  afterwards  Miss  Passmere  is  sip- 
ping, lazily,  a  cup  of  Young  Hyson,  which  is  served 
her  by  an  attentive  Chinese  boy,  when  her  brother 
brings  his  bride  to  her,  and  the  radiant  gratitude  of 
her  victim  would  shock  Imogene's  conscience  if  she 
had  any.  For  Flora,  throwing  her  arms  around  her, 
kisses  her  and  says :  "  I  thank  you,  dear  sister,  for 
your  letter  that  brought  to  my  side  the  husband  of 
my  heart." 

"  Yes,  your  love  for  Arthur  seems  to  have  improved 
you,  dear,"  whispers  Imogene,  returning  the  buss. 
Then  she  laughs :  "  Though  you  look  as  demure  as  a 
novice — after  fasting  and  prayer." 

"  Well,  I'm  a  very  happy  novice,  anyway,"  mur- 
murs Flora,  turning  trusting  eyes  upon  her  husband, 
though  she  blushes  slightly  and  droops  a  little  under 
his  suave  yet  admiring  and  possessive  glance. 

After  a  few  minutes'  conversation  and  another  cup 
of  tea,  Imogene  takes  up  her  parasol  preparatory  to 
rising  while  Flora  breaks  out :  "  Oh,  thank  you  for 
sacrificing  yourself  to  take  care  of  Harold.  Arthur  has 
been  goodness  to  my  boy,  and  now  you  seem  to  be 
equally  benign." 

"Oh,  yes,  the  husband's  old  maid  sister,"  laughs 


124  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

the  wicked  little  fairy.  Then  an  idea  seeming  to  flit 
through  her  brain,  she  says,  lightly :  "  But  as  I  am  to 
stop  at  Hong  Kong,  supposing  you  tell  me  something 
about  the  people  I  am  likely  to  meet  over  there.  Sev- 
eral American  girls  at  the  Peak  Hotel,  of  course  ?  " 

"  No,  there's  only  one  in  Hong  Kong  whom  I  know," 
replies  the  bride.  "  Two  or  three  young  army  officers' 
wives  went  to  the  Philippines  a  week  ago,  but  I  think 
Eira  Boardman  is  the  only  unmarried  American  lady 
just  at  present  in  Victoria  society." 

"  Oh — ah !  As  I  am  going  over  to  take  charge  of 
Harold,  and  shall  doubtless  meet  them,  supposing  you 
tell  me  something  about  your  relatives." 

"  Why,  certainly !  "  And  Flora,  proud  of  her  con- 
nections, chats  to  Imogene  about  her  uncle  and  his 
daughter,  remarking  upon  the  enormous  wealth  of  the 
great  arms  manufacturer,  adding,  lightly :  "  Eira  has 
quite  an  admirer  in  that  Japanese,  Captain  Katsuma." 

"  And  no  others  ?  "  The  fairy  opens  her  gray  eyes. 
"  You  say  Miss  Boardman  is  as  beautiful  as  a  spirit- 
ual Venus.  She's  an  American — she's  twenty — she 
must  have  had  flirtations !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  forgot — one  big  one,"  babbles  Mrs. 
Passmere.  "Eira's  father  practically  brought  her  to 
China  with  him  to  take  her  away  from  a  poor  young 
lieutenant,  who  was  making  very  desperate  love  to  her. 
Even  after  my  cousin  arrived  in  Europe  young  In- 
graham's  letters  used  to  pursue  her.  Heavens,  how 
her  father  used  to  curse  him." 

"  Oh,  thank  you.  I  was  sure  she'd  had  one! "  laughs 
Miss  Imogene,  triumphantly,  but  miserably.  Then, 
perhaps,  thinking  of  some  moonlight  nights  upon  the 
decks  of  the  Rio  Janeiro,  her  eyes  grow  pathetic, 
though  her  thin  lips  are  now  very  straight,  very  cruel 
lines.  "  You  had  better  give  me  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion to  Miss  Boardman  or  her  father,"  she  says,  in  a 
choked  voice.  Her  hand  trembles  so  the  tea  spills 
from  her  cup. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  125 

•'  Why,  certainly,  dear  one !  "  cries  Flora,  and  eager 
to  please  her  new  sister,  trips  to  the  door.  Here  she 
suddenly  pauses,  and  asks,  timidly :  "  You  have  no 
objection  to  my  writing  to — to  Mr.  Boardman, 
Arthur?" 

"  Not  a  bit,  if  you  give  me  a  kiss,"  chuckles  the 
bridegroom,  and,  seeming  quite  proud  of  his  magnifi- 
cent captive,  he  beckons  her  to  him  caresses  her 
and  tells  her  to  run  along  and  do  as  she  is  bid. 

As  his  bride  flits  like  a  white-robed  novice  from  the 
room  the  dictator  strolls  over  to  his  sister,  and  between 
puffs  of  his  cheroot,  whispers :  "  How's  that  for  Mad- 
ame Meekness,  after  five-hours'  training?"  Then  he 
suddenly  starts  and  mutters :  "'My  God,  Genie,  your 
face  is  like  that  awful  night  up  the  country,  at  Twuy- 
Chow,  when,  far  away  from  foreign  aid  and  consuls, 
you  told  me  the  old  compradore  was  betraying  us  to 
Li  Wong  Chieun !  " 

Then  he  is  even  more  astounded. 

For  at  the  mention  of  the  mandarin's  name  Imo- 
gene's  countenance,  which  had  been  as  palely  vengeful 
as  a  Medusa's,  flushes  red  as  that  of  a  nymph  stolen  by 
a  satyr.  She  utters  a  sobbing  sigh,  shudders  from  head 
to  foot,  sinks  into  a  chair,  and  falters  with  trem- 
bling lips :  "  For  God's  sake — in  mercy,  don't  speak 
of  him — don't  speak  of  him!" 

"  What  the  deuce  is  the  matter  with  you,  Genie," 
says  her  brother,  soothingly.  "  It's  years  ago.  I  was 
only  in  Li's  mud  yamen  two  days  and  got  off  quite 
lightly,  with  a  fine,  and  you  were  only  in  his  custody  as 
witness  for  a  few  hours.  We  escaped  from  Chinese 
justice  easily  enough. 

"  Yes,  easily  enough,"  sighs  the  woman.  Then,  after 
a  little,  apparently  recovering  herself  by  an  awful 
effort,  she  sneers :  "  Pish,  don't  think  of  old  times ; 
we're  honest  people  now.  My  face  only  means  that 
I'll  teach  young  Lieutenant  Fast-and-loose  not  to  for- 
get his  little  missionary  girl,"  and  the  fairy  trying  to 


126  t ANGLED  FLAGS. 

iaugh,  wipes  from  her  big  pathetic  eyes  a  couple  of 
very  bitter  tears. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"l  HAVE  MET  HIS  EXCELLENCY  BEFORE." 

Miss  Imogene  Tracey  Passmere  makes  her  journey 
to  Hong  Kong  in  a  very  unpleasant  mood.  Getting 
up  to  the  Peak  Hotel,  she  presents  a  note  from  her 
brother  to  its  boniface,  and  under  his  auspices  takes  up 
her  quarters  in  the  apartments  that  this  morning  had 
been  occupied  by  Mrs.  Elton.  Here  she  deftly  assumes 
authority  over  Flora's  nurse  and  ayah,  incidentally 
making  the  acquaintance,  and  in  her  pleasant  way,  be- 
coming the  friend  of  Master  Harold. 

But  after  laughing  at  and  tiring  of  the  urchin's 
polyglot  in  half  an  hour,  his  new  governante  sends  him 
off  for  a  walk  with  his  attendants,  as  it  is  now  quite 
late  in  the  afternoon  and  children's  playtime  in  the 
Botanical  Gardens. 

Sitting  in  the  beautiful  parlor  which,  during  the 
morning  had  been  the  scene  of  Flora's  embarrassment, 
atonement  and  conquest  by  her  brother,  the  little  fairy 
complacently  gazes  at  her  plump  pocketbook,  filled  with 
the  money  transfered  from  the  plundered  bride's 
purse,  and  this  reminding  her  of  the  revelation  that 
had  come  to  her  from  that  lady,  brings  first  tears  into 
her  elfin  eyes,  and  then  the  Medusa  look  that  had 
shocked  even  her  brother.  She  murmurs  hoarsely  to 
herself:  "Now  for  the  woman!" 

She  claps  her  hands  for  her  maid,  and  under  Lie- 
lie's  attentions  makes  a  careful  toilette.  Then  sum- 
moning a  hotel  boy,  she  sends  her  card  and  Flora's  let- 
ter of  introduction  in  to  Mr.  Boardman. 

A  few  minutes  after  Miss  Passmere  is  ushered  into 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  12? 

the  American's  parlor  by  die  chin-chinning  Lum  Kee, 
receiving  even  as  she  enters  a  shock. 

Fortunately,  she  is  slightly  prepared  for  it.  The 
Chinese  servant's  face  has  a  peculiar  grin  on  it  that 
seems  unpleasantly  familiar  to  her,  for  Imogene  is 
sufficiently  accustomed  to  Celestial  countenances  to  in- 
dividualize them;  almond  eyes  and  Mongolian 
features  not  having  to  her  sharp  glance  the  general 
monotony  with  which  casual  sojourners  in  the  East 
credit  them. 

But  notwithstanding  this,  Imogene  practically  un- 
warned, drapes  her  skirts  gracefully  about  her  figure 
that,  in  its  perfect  proportions  seems  slight,  sweeps  into 
Mr.  Boardman's  drawing-room  and  greets  its  proprie- 
tor with  a  dainty  bow.  , 

Here  she  is  pleasantly  received  by  Joel,  who  holds 
Flora's  letter  of  introduction  in  his  hand.  To  her  the 
great  American  manufacturer  says:  "  I  am  delighted 
to  meet  you,  Miss  Passmere.  I  see  by  my  niece's  note 
that  you  have  been  in  China  before." 

"  Yes.  I've  returned  full  of  my  project.  You  know 
I've  half  an  idea  of  entering  the  missionary  ranks,"  re- 
plies the  girl,  giving  her  eyes  a  devotional  twinge. 

As  she  speaks  her  host  moves  a  step  aside.  "  Mis- 
sionary "  dies  on  Imogene's  gasping  lips.  Li  Wong 
Chieun,  in  his  official  robes,  attended  by  his  interpreter, 
is  rising  from  a  nearby  table,  where,  apparently,  he  had 
been  holding  some  business  conference  with  the  arms' 
manufacturer. 

The  American  says,  politely :  "  Then  here's  a  Celes- 
tial potentate  who  can,  perhaps,  aid  your  endeavor.  I 
take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  you  Miss  Passmere,  his 
Excellency,  Li  Wong  Chieun,  one  of  the  great  Chinese 
authorities." 

As  the  Mongolian  steps  forward  their  eyes  meet. 
The  Chinese-commissioner-high  gazes  at  the  young 
lady,  at  first  with  the  same  blinking  glance  with  which 
he  had  greeted  her  brother.  Then  some  pleasant  mem- 


TANGLED  FLAGS. 

ory  coming  to  him,  his  look  grows  reflective ;  his  face 
flushes;  his  thick  lips  compress  themselves.  With  a 
sleepy,  yet  sensuous  smile,  he  says,  in  pidgin  English : 
"  All  light !  Me  knowee  Missee  Passmere  up  Twuy- 
Chow  side." 

To  this  Imogene,  with  that  marvelous  command  of 
nerves  given  to  some  women,  replies :  "  Yes,  I — have 
— met — his  excellency — before."  The  words  drop  like 
icicles  from  her  trembling  lips.  Her  face  is  ash  colored, 
save  two  flickering  hectic  spots  on  either  cheek,  but  the 
eyes  sparkle  in  an  agony  of  shame. 

"  So  good  lucky !  Me  sabe  bellie  well,  Missee  Pass- 
mere  ! "  chuckles  the  Chinese-commissioner-high, 
affably. 

In  the  subdued  light  of  the  room,  for  it  is  growing 
towards  the  evening,  the  American,  fortunately,  does 
not  catch  the  girl's  face,  which  is  deadly  as  a  Thug's. 
He  says,  politely :  "  If  you  will  excuse  a  very  few 
words  with  Li  Wong  Chieun,  Miss  Passmere,  I  will 
give  you  my  entire  attention,"  and  escorts  the  official 
to  the  door. 

"  Certainly,"  whispers  the  young  lady,  whose  face 
has  now  become  red  as  the  fire  of  Hades.  Turning  to- 
wards a  window,  she  sinks  into  a  chair  and  gazes  out, 
but  sees  naught  of  Hong  Kong  though  it  lies  before 
her. 

Into  her  memory  has  flown  a  scene  of  horror  un- 
utterable, vivid,  distinct,  crushing.  The  bright  sunset 
of  a  summer  day  is  gilding  theTwuy-Chow  hills.  Im- 
prisoning her  are  the  plain  mud  walls  of  the  judgment 
hall  of  a  Chinese  satrap.  In  the  adjoining  question 
chamber  the  yamen  executioners  are  taking  down  the 
lithe  rattans  of  justice.  Before  them  a  girl  is  standing 
helpless,  with  aid  afar,  facing  a  dread  despair.  The 
grinning  mandarin  is  saying,  in  suave  deliberation: 
"  To  gain  my  clemency,  there  is  but  one  bribe — from 
you!"  She  is  screaming  as  the  torturers  bare  her 
cringing  body  for  the  rods.  She  is  breaking  from 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  129 

them  and  throwing  herself  at  her  judge's  feet  and 
crying:  "Spare  me — at  thy  own  infamous  price!" 
Then  the  sun  goes  down  behind  the  Twuy-Chow  hills, 
leaving  behind  only  a  weird  horror  and  a  woman'? 
sickening  shame. 

For  a  few  faltering  moments  Imogene  places  a  trem- 
bling hand  upon  the  arm  of  a  chair  to  steady  her 
quivering  limbs,  as  the  Chinese-commissioner  after 
some  high-flown  sentences  of  farewell,'  translated  by 
his  secretary  into  flowery  English,  is  bowed  out  by  the 
American  and  passes  to  his  sedan  chair. 

She  is  perfectly  aware  Chieun  recognized  her,  but 
full  of  a  strange  self-command,  now  puts  her  ey«*s 
straight  before  her  and  replies,  tremulously  yet  intel- 
ligibly, to  Mr.  Boardman,  who,  coming  to  her,  thinks 
it  is  maiden  bashfulness  which  overcomes  the  young 
lady  and  again  remarks,  reassuringly,  that  he  is  de- 
lighted to  meet  Miss  Passmere. 

This  is  quite  true.  In  the  first  place,  Joel  is  glad  to 
know  his  niece's  husband  has  a  sister,  a  man  with  lady 
relatives  always  seeming  more  settled  in  a  social  way 
in  the  far  East  than  an  unattached  bachelor.  Besides, 
the  wily  arms'  manufacturer  thinks  he  can  discover 
from  his  sister  more  of  Mr.  Passmere's  antecedents 
than  he  had  ever  learned  from  that  gentleman  himself. 
In  addition  the  young  lady,  who,  having  steadied  her- 
self and  is  now  bowing  so  prettily  to  him  and  holding 
out  a  delicate  hand  in  seeming  diffidence,  appears  to 
his  old  senses  an  exceedingly  attractive  girl.  "  It  is 
very  nice  of  you,"  he  says,  "  to  come  over  here  and 
take  charge  of  little  Harold.  I  was  afraid  he  would  be 
lonely  during  his  mother's  temporary  absence.  Flora's 
note  says  you  have  just  arrived  by  the  Rio  Janeiro, 
Miss  Passmere?" 

"  Yes,  I  thought  I  would  make  my  bachelor  brother 
a  visit,"  she  laughs,  as  she  accepts  the  easy  chair 
offered  by  her  host.  "  I  had  spent  two  years  with 
Arthur  when  he  was  on  diplomatic  business  in  North- 


I3<>  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

ern  China.  On  my  arrival  here,  however,  I  found  him 
a  bachelor  no  longer.  He  didn't  need  a  sister  to 
take  care  of  his  establishment;  so  I  thought  I'd  do 
both  him  and  the  bride  a  good  turn  by  keeping  an  eye 
upon  little  Harold.  In  a  few  days,  after  the  first 
honeymoon,  I  am  to  visit  my  brother  and  sister,  over 
in  Kau-lung." 

"  Why,  I  thought  Arthur,"  observes  Joel,  who  thinks 
he  might  as  well  give  the  gentleman  who  has  called 
him  "  Uncle  Boardman  "  a  more  familiar  title,  "  was 
going  to  Peking  almost  immediately  ?  " 

"  To  Peking  ?  "  says  the  young  lady,  opening  her 
eyes;  then,  perhaps,  some  thought  of  the  Chinese  offi- 
cial who  had  just  left,  flying  through  her  alert  mind, 
for  a  moment  her  face  grows  anxious,  perhaps  even 
troubled. 

"  Yes,  I  believe  that  is  his  intention.  Mr.  Passmere 
spoke  of  visiting  Peking.  I  understand  he  has  been 
summoned  there  by  Sir  Claude  .vlacdonald,"  remarks 
Boardman. 

At  this,  guessing  that  Peking  is  merely  a  ruse  of  her 
brother  to  give,  himself  diplomatic  and  social  impor- 
tance in  the  eyes  of  his  bride's  uncle,  Imogene  appears 
relieved,  and  murmurs :  "  Well,  diplomats  are  not 
their  own  masters,  you  know,  any  more  than  soldiers 
or  sailors." 

"  Quite  so,"  replies  the  American.  "  Perhaps  Eira 
and  I  will  go  to  Peking  about  the  same  time.  I  am 
sorry  my  daughter  is  not  here  for  me  to  present  her  to 
you  at  once.  I  don't  know  what  detains  her.  She 
went  down  the  hill  quite  early  in  the  day.  Then  he 
suddenly  ejaculates :  "  Great  Scott !  I  wonder  if  she's 
changed  her  mind  and  gone  to  Major  Tilford's  Saiwan 
picnic?  " 

"  Perhaps  she  did.  I  heard  quite  a  number  of  ladies 
were  going.  Flora,  I  believe,  had  accepted,  but  pre- 
ferred matrimony  to  a  champagne  lunch,"  smiles  Miss 
Passmere.  Though  her  voice  is  insouciant,  almost 


laughing,  her  thin  lips  drawn  for  a  moment  into  their 
cruel  lines  indicate  the  fairy  has  another  guess  in  re- 
gard to  Eira  Boardman's  absence  from  the  Peak  Hotel. 

"  Yes,  my  niece  did  make  a  hurried  match  of  it,"  re- 
plies Mr.  Boardrnan,  sharply.  "  Though  you  are  her 
husband's  sister,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  Flora  was 
so  secretive  about  her  love  affair  that  it  annoyed  me 
greatly." 

"  Though  I  am  Arthur's  sister,"  returns  Imogene,  in 
high-minded  frankness,  "  I  think  you  were  perfectly 
right  in  being  angered.  I  told  Arthur  myself  that  even 
his  jealous  love  for  his  bride  did  not  warrant  him  hur- 
rying her  into  matrimony  without  notifying  you. 
But  you  see  Flora  had — I  say  this  because  I  presume 
you  must  have  noticed  it — 'been  flirting  with  several  of 
the  garrison  officers  and  had  driven  Arthur  nearly 
wild  with  jealousy." 

"  Flirting !  Great  Gehosh,  I  should  think  so !  " 
ejaculates  Boardman,  then  goes  on,  doggedly:  "I 
told  Flora  that  I  washed  my  hands  of  the  affair  after 
that.  You  see  I  am  not  accustomed  to  these  clandestine 
loves.  My  daughter  has  never  had  in  her  whole  ex- 
istence a  secret  from  me,  so  I  don't  understand  a 
woman's  permitting  a  suitor  without  consulting  her 
relatives. 

To  this  Miss  Passmere  listens  very  pleasantly.  She 
sees  that  Flora,  as  far  as  her  uncle  is  concerned,  will  be 
now  left  entirely  in  Mr.  Passmere's  hands — which  also 
means  her's.  Then  Joel's  words  suggesting  how  effec- 
tive it  will  be,  she  is  desperately  anxious  to  plant  her 
arrow  in  Eira  Boardman's  love  affair  with  the  military 
suitor,  whose  handsome  person  and  pleasant  gallantry 
have  been  too  potent  on  moonlit  steamer  decks  to  Im- 
ogene's  passionate  heart.  Thinking  of  the  dashing 
lieutenant,  Miss  Passmere's  face  becomes  sad,  and  she 
turns  Madonna-like  eyes  towards  Heaven — though  not 
praying  to  God. 

Catching  her  glance,   Boardman  says,  in  parental 


532  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

pride :  "  You're  looking  at  my  daughter's  picture.  It 
was  painted  in  Paris,  and  catches  the  attention  of 
every  one.  Even  Li  Wong  Chieun,  who  knows  as 
much  about  French  art  as  a  monkey,  I  imagine,  can't 
keep  his  optics  away  from  it." 

Imogene  finds  that  she  is  facing  the  portrait  of  her 
rival.  It  is  nearly  a  full-sized  presentment  of  a  girl 
whose  beauty  makes  the  inspector  gasp  and  tremble. 

Masterfully  tinted  by  some  French  artist,  it  gives 
but  one  of  the  many  varying  expressions  of  Eira 
Boardman's  face — but  that  is  too  lovely.  The  blue 
eyes,  instinct  with  life  and  feeling,  have  a  brunette's 
vivacity  and  passion.  They  are  gazing  intently,  as  if 
— Miss  Passmere  shudders — for  his  coming.  The 
pose  of  the  graceful  figure  shows  the  exquisite  out- 
lines of  a  girl  and  yet  a  woman.  Soft  laces  drape 
arms,  shoulders  and  bosom  of  ivory,  chiseled  into  the 
fairest  contours  of  early  nubility.  An  ostrich  fan 
waved  by  a  perfectly  proportioned  hand  adds  coquetry 
to  what  might  be  a  too  austere  virginity. 

Taking  stock  of  all  this  beauty,  Miss  Passmere  re- 
gretting her  graceful  yet  petite  figure,  bites  her  lip  till 
it  bleeds  and  meditates  savagely :  "  What,  am  I  to  do 
battle  with  you,  my  ethereal  Venus.  Jim  never  told 
me  that  he  loved  me ;  but  he  has  surely  told  you !  That 
makes  me  hate  you !  " 

"  If  you  will  wait,  you  will  very  shortly  see  the  orig- 
inal. Eira  must  come  in  soon,"  suggests  Boardman  in 
kindly  tone. 

So  the  two  sit  down  together  and  have  a  pleasant 
little  chat,  chiefly  relating  to  the  young  lady's  voyage ; 
twice,  however,  Joel  showing  his  impatience  by  ring- 
ing the  bell  and  telling  Lum  Kee  to  find  out  if  his 
daughter  has  yet  returned  and  is  in  her  room,  and 
once  sending  for  Miss  Boardman's  maid,  a  pleasant- 
faced  French  girl,  and  questioning  her  as  to  what  she 
knew  about  her  mistress's  intentions  for  the  day. 

Noting  this  with  a  grim  smile,  the  fairy  thinks^ 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  133 

wickedly:  "  I'll  give  the  trusting  old  duffer  a  hint,"  and 
rises  to  go. 

"  Better  luck  next  time,"  remarks  Joel.  "  Run  in 
upon  us  this  evening,  then  you'll  be  sure  to  see  my 
darling." 

"  Thank  you  so  much,"  answers  Miss  Passmere. 

She  is  almost  at  the  door  when  Boardman,  who  has 
been  bowing  her  out,  as  tribute  to  the  fairy-like  delicacy 
of  his  guests,  suggests :  "  I  suppose  you  had  a  good 
many  beaux  on  the  City  of  Rio  Janeiro?" 

"  That's  not  so  complimentary,"  pouts  Imogene 
archly,  "  when  the  ship's  list  showed  six  cavaliers  to 
every  lady ;  a  good  many  of  the  gallants,  young  officers 
bound  for  the  Philippines." 

"  Oh,  shoulder  straps  and  brass  buttons  are  gener- 
ally dashing  wooers,"  grins  the  capitalist. 

"  Yes,  there  was  Captain  Robertson,  Major  Gran- 
nis,  and  an  awfully  handsome  lieutenant,  James  Bur- 
ton Ingraham." 

"  James  Burton Damnation,  what  did  you  say  his 

name  was  ? "  mutters  the  arms'  manufacturer. 

"  Lieutenant  James  Burton  Ingraham  of  the  Ninth 
Infantry."  Gazing  at  the  father's  face  that  is  con- 
torted by  rage,  Imogene  knows  she  has  struck  the 
daughter,  and  goes  merrily  on :  "  I  don't  think  I'll 
ever  forgive  the  wretch.  He  was  to  attend  to  my  lug- 
gage, and  immediately  the  boat  arrived  got  some  mes- 
sage or  other,  and  suddenly  disappeared  on  the  plea 
of  a  business  cable." 

Miss  Passmere  trips  from  the  room,  but  as  she 
doses  the  door  listens  and  inwardly  laughs,  for  she 
hears  a  volley  of  American  expletives  and  imprecations 
rising  to  high  Heaven,  indicative  that  the  old  arms' 
manufacturer  has  guessed  that  it  is  no  Saiwan  picnic 
which  has  kept  from  his  sight  his  beautiful  daughter 
all  this  long  day. 

"  I  think  I  have  given  Eira  a  pleasant  interview," 
cogitates  Imogene.  "  Funny  I  should  hate  a  girl  I 


134  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

have  never  seen ;  but,  oh,  how  I  hate  her !  "  I'll  ac- 
cept Mr.  Boardman's  invitation  and  run  in  this  even- 
ing to  see  a  happy  family. 

***** 

As  for  the  hated  one,  far  down  towards  the  Lyce- 
moon  Pass,  in  the  cabin  of  a  sampan,  shaded  by  Chi- 
nese awnings,  she  is  passing  the  happiest  afternoon  of 
her  life  by  the  side  of  the  man  she  loves. 

Perhaps  no  one  has  been  welcomed  more  eagerly  or 
more  tenderly  near  Pedder's  Wharf  than  Lieutenant 
Ingraham,  and  there  have  been  many  strange  meetings, 
many  rapturous  embraces  upon  that  landing  place 
of  Hong  Kong,  from  which  there  are  steam  lines 
to  the  four  quarters  of  the  Pacific;  to  the  Horn  and 
to  the  Cape,  to  Kamchatka  and  to  Alaska,  to  Califor- 
nia and  Far  Cathay,  Australia  and  the  Islands  of  the 
Inde.  , 

Sitting  in  her  riksha,  Eira  Boardman  has  searched 
with  straining  eyes  and  illumined  face  the  passing 
crowd  for  the  man  for  whom  she  longs.  To  her  has 
come  the  cavalier  of  her  heart  and  muttered :  "  Thank 
God ;  at  last !  "  and  forgetful  of  all  else,  but  that  his 
sweetheart  is  before  him,  has  bent  down  to  make  her 
sweet  lips  his  own.  But  she,  in  the  the  midst  of  this 
hurrying  crowd  and  surging  tide  of  travel,  stays  him 
sternly,  yet  murmurs  that  great  harbinger  of  hope 
from  woman  to  man :  "  Not  here  Jim,  not  HERE  !  " 

"  Hang  it,  I  must  get  you  to  some  kissing  place !  " 
pleads  Mars  so  ardently  that  Venus  can't  help  look- 
ing pleased.  Burning  with  the  idea  put  into  his  heart 
by  the  unsuccessful  lover,  the  successful  one  queries : 
"  Eira,  dear  one,  were  I  your  husband,  would  you  kiss 
me  openly  in  the  crowd  ?  " 

"  Wouldn't  I,  Jim  ?  Before  all  the  world ;  before 
even  my  father.  Try  me  and  see !  " 

"  Then  I  shall  fix  it  so  the  next  time  I  return  to  you 
we  kiss  in  public." 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  135 

This  is  answered  only  by  drooping  yet  rapturous 
eyes,  and  burning  yet  happy  blushes. 

Then  looking  about  and  seeing  an  almost  complete 
absence  of  vehicles,  Mr.  Ingraham  mutters :  "  I 
thought  I  could  make  love  in  anything  on  wheels,  even 
a  Boston  herdic,  but  hang  me  if  these  man-carts  for  one 
wouldn't  bother  old  Ovid  himself." 

"  Oh,  Jim,  haven't  you  ever  seen  a  riksha  before?  " 

At  this  the  lieutenant,  remembering  Nagasaki  and  a 
certain  fairy-like  little  lady,  who  is  still  on  board  the 
Rio  Janeiro,  strokes  his  mustache  slowly,  and  blushing 
slightly  under  his  tan,  remarks :  "  How  about  the 
Botanical  Gardens  ?  " 

"  Oh,  papa  walks  there  so  often  in  the  afternoon." 

"What  do  you  say  to  a  Chinese  boat  and  a 
cruise  down  towards  Lycemoon  Pass,"  whispers 
the  gentleman.  "I'll  take  a  sampan,  with  big  awn- 
ings and  shaded  cabin,  and  the  breezes  will  be  very 
pleasant.  Let's  have  a  picnic  by  ourselves.  I'm  sure 
I  can  pick  up  lunch  somewhere." 

"Yes,  Jim,  you  were  always  great  at  lunch,  weren't 
you.  Well,  as  this  is  my  first  sight  of  you  for  so 
long,  I'll  not  ask  my  father's  permission,"  she  whis- 
pers, archly. 

Half  an  hour  afterwards  the  two,  hand  in  hand, 
drift  away  over  the  sunlit  water,  into  a  lover's  paradise. 

But  the  pleasantest  things  seem  the  shortest,  and 
Jim  Ingraham,  knowing  the  love  dream  of  this  after- 
noon will  end  all  too  soon,  tries  to  persuade  the  flut- 
tering girl  who  accepts  his  caresses  so  tenderly  yet 
so  maidenly  to  make  it  lifelong.  "  Give  me  the  right 
to  call  you  wife,  and  who  shall  stand  between  us !  " 
he  pleads,  with  the  eloquence  of  a  man  fighting  for 
his  happiness;  and  with  ardent  yet  subtle  caresses  en- 
forces a  suit  that  is  generally  a  winning  one  where 
the  lady  loves  as  Eira  Boardman  does. 

She  has  so  suffered  in  his  absence,  she  judges  her 
swain  must  have  suffered  likewise.  She  cannot  be 


136  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

very  cruel  to  the  big,  whole-souled  lover,  who,  at  the 
best  within  a  few  short  days,  must  sail  away — the 
question  is,  shall  she  sail  with  him. 

Under  his  impassioned  words,  Luzon  seems  as 
beautiful  to  the  young  lady,  floating  over  the  blue 
waters  of  Hong  Kong  strait,  as  the  palace  by  the 
Lake  of  Como  appeared  to  the  love-sick  Pauline  when 
described  by  Claude  Melnotte's  poetic  tongue. 

As  the  helm  is  put  up  and  they  sail  towards  the  big 
town  that  runs  up  the  steep  hillsides,  so  earnest  and  yet 
so  tender  has  been  his  suit  that,  conquered  by  the 
thought  of  parting  with  him,  his  inamorata  grows 
more  pliant  than  she  had  ever  been  before.  Em- 
boldened by  the  support  of  his  arm,  and  made  pli- 
able by  his  caresses,  Eira  Boardman  thinks  she  will 
defy  her  trusting  father,  yet  weeps  at  the  thought. 

Tears  don't  please  gentlemen.  The  lieutenant  mut- 
ters :  "  So  you  feel  sad  at  thought  of  marrying  me  ?  " 

"  No,  but  at  deceiving  my  father !  " 

"  Hang  it,  don't  reproach  me  for  being  eager !  " 
whispers  the  gentleman,  glumly.  "  Haven't  I  had  the 
patience  of  Job?  Haven't  I  endured  your  father's 
cold  looks  and  short  sentences  for  nigh  onto  a  year 
that  has  seemed  like  twenty?  When  I  look  upon  your 
beauty,  your  loveliness,  who'd  blame  a  fellow  for  be- 
ing impatient?" 

"  I  don't  Jim,"  sighs  the  girl,  pleased  at  the  com- 
pliment, for  Eira  Boardman,  though  lovely,  is  mor- 
tal ;  and  even  angels  like  a  tender  word  and  admiring 
glance  and  probably  smile  when  their  golden  wings 
are  called  the  prettiest  in  Heaven. 

"  Then  let  us  end  it,"  says  the  young  man,  who, 
like  a  profound  tactician,  having  weakened  the  enemy 
by  a  flank  attack,  now  charges  with  all  his  force.  "If 
you  love  me  as  I  love  you,  when  the  next  transport, 
sails  for  the  Philippines  there's  a  bride  on  board." 

"Oh,  Jim!" 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  137 

"  Fancy  Manila  with  you  by  my  side.  Afternoon 
drives  on  the  Luneta,  you  looking  into  my  eyes." 

"  Please — please  don't  tempt  me !  " 

"  A  whole  extra  honeymoon  around  the  romantic 
shores  of  the  Laguna  de  Bayo  for  just  you  and  me!  " 

"  In  pity — your're  making  me  disobedient  to  my 
father !  " 

"  Oh,  the  old  boy  will  come  around  when  he  finds 
he  can't  help  himself.  He  has  only  one  daughter; 
he's  got  to  love  you;  just  as  I've  got  one  sweetheart 
and  I've  got  to  marry  you." 

"  God  forgive  me,  you're  making  me  a  very  bad 
daughter." 

"  Yes,  but  an  awful  good — wife.  Now  I've  called 
you  wife  I'll  never  give  you  any  other  title.  When 
shall  it  be — to-morrow  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Jim,  I — I  can't  look  you  in  the  face !" 

Some  few  minutes  after,  stepping  out  together 
from  the  sampan  at  Pedder's  Wharf,  the  two  go  up 
the  hill  to  make  a  last  farewell  for  the  afternoon  in 
the  Botanical  Gardens,  taking  chances  of  papa's  con- 
stitutional. 

Near  the  fountain  an  unchin,  gazed  at  by  a  sad-eyed 
Japanese  officer,  is  babbling  to  nurse  and  ayah: 
"  Aujourd'  hui,  un  nouvel  papa  et  eine  neue  Tante! 
How  is  that  for  high  !  " 

This  gentleman  immediately  joins  Miss  Boardman 
and  her  escort. 

Careless  in  his  happiness,  after  hasty  greeting,  as 
soon  as  they  have  passed  out  of  the  throng  into  a 
shaded  alley  Ingraham  whispers,  hoarsely,  to  him: 
"  Make  the  arrangements,  Boom-de-rah,  I  marry  her 
to-morrow ! " 

At  this  two  slight  sounds  issue  from  the  lips  of  In- 
graham's  auditors.  One  is  the  ejaculation  of  a  girl 
frightened  at  her  own  happiness ;  the  other  the  sigh  of 
a  broken  yet  resolute  heart. 

"  Very  well,  since  you  have  told  your  father,  Miss 


138  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Boardman,"  mutters  Osuri,  forcing  himself  to  a 
dogged  yet  noble  calmness,  "there's  naught  for  me 
to  do  but  to  give  you  my  best  offices,  Jim."  He  grips 
his  comrade's  hand. 

"  Told  my  father !  "  gasps  the  lady.  "  Heavens  and 
earth,  I  dare  not !  " 

"Told  old  Boardman?"  ejaculates  Jim  ruefully. 
"  Of  course,  not  till  after  the  ceremony." 

"  Then  no  blessing  will  come  upon  your  wedding," 
shudders  the  Shintoist,  filled  with  the  respect  for  par- 
ents implanted  not  only  by  the  precepts  of  his  religion 
but  by  the  heredity  of  ancestors  who  had  never  diso- 
beyed a  father  during  a.  hundred  generations.  "  By  the 
gods,  think  what  you  are  doing,"  he  implores.  "  No 
children  will  come  to  bless  your  love.  If  they  do  they 
will  break  your  hearts  as  you  will  break  the  old  man's 
who  begat  you,  Miss  Boardman." 

"  But  you  said  that  this  was  the  only  way  to  prevent 
her  father  taking  her  to  Peking,"  dissents  Ingraham, 
half  angrily. 

"  That  I  think  is  true ;  but  I  also  believe  for  that 
very  reason  I  can  so  place  the  matter  before  Mr. 
Boardman  that  you  wed  under  a  father's  blessing." 
Then  he  asks  earnestly :  "  Pills,  does  your  own  father 
know?" 

"  What,  the  old  general  ?  Oh  yes,  he  told  me  to  hitch 
on  as  soon  as  I  found  a  girl  who  would  have  me ;  that's 
his  motto." 

"  I'm  very  glad  of  that,"  Osuri  says  solemnly,  "  for 
this  young  lady  must  not  visit  Peking.  I  must  go  up 
the  hill  and  see  your  father  and  induce  him  to  give 
his  blessing." 

"  By  the  Lord,  if  you  can  do  it,  you're  a  better  tac- 
tician that  I  am,"  mutters  Ingraham  dissentingly. 

But  Eira  who  has  tears  in  her  eyes  at  the  Japanese 
officer's  arraignment  of  her  want  of  filial  affection, 
whispers :  "  Yes,  dear  Captain  Katsuma,  go  up  and  tell 
my  father.  Get  his  blessing.  And  then  if  he  refuses 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  139 

you,  I'll  take  Jim  into  him.  If  he  refuses  me  it  is  the 
first  time  he  has  ever  been  proof  against  my  tears." 

"  Then  after  the  manner  of  Japan  I  make  myself, 
though  not  in  regular  form,  your  nakoda,  man  of  my 
heart,  and  in  doing  it,  I  prove  my  love  to  you,  Jim 
Ingraham."  And  the  Japanese  with  one  wistful  glance 
at  the  beautiful  being  who  for  one  blessed  month  he  had 
made  his  guiding  star,  turns  sadly  to  do  the  errand  that 
will  destroy  his  fondest  hope  in  life. 

Gazing  after  Katsuma's  retreating  form,  which 
seems,  now  that  he  is  leading  a  forlorn  hope,  more 
erect  and  military  than  ever,  some  divination  flies  into 
Jim  Ingraham's  mind.  He  looks  for  a  moment  quite 
sternly  upon  the  fluttering  Venus  who  has  so  devotedly 
proved  her  love  for  him,  by  tendering  him  her  hand. 


CHAPTER  X. 
BOOM-DE-RAH'S  SHINTO  ADVICE. 

With  the  sweat  of  agony  on  his  forehead,  Osuri  at 
the  Peak  Hotel  sends  in  his  card  to  the  father  of  the 
woman  he  loves,  and  sadly  prepares  to  do  his  best  to 
place  her  in  a  comrade's  arms.  He  enters  Mr.  Board- 
man's  parlor  to  find  a  father  made  more  than  obdurate 
by  the  apparently  innocent  yet  extremely  crafty  rev- 
elation of  a  jealous  woman. 

For  Joel  has  just  despatched  Lum  Kee  down  the 
hill  with  this  'pidgin'  American  direction :  "  Botanical 
Gardens  like  hellee !  You  telle  missee  come  up  topside 
quickee !  Git !  " 

Even  now  he  is  holding  in  his  hand  a  feminine  note 
which  has  produced  his  order.  It  reads: 

"  DEAR  MR.  BOARDMAN  : — 

"  Knowing  your  anxiety  about  your  daughter,  I 
take  the  liberty  of  writing  that  my  little  nephew  Har- 


140  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

old,  who  has  just  been  brought  up  by  his  ayah  from  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  says  that  he  saw  Miss  Eira  there 
but  a  few  moments  ago. 

Yours  sincerely, 

IMOGENE  T.  PASSMERE." 

Thinking  of  his  daughter's  reticence,  if  not  deceit,  in 
regard  to  the  coming  of  a  man  whose  suit  he  has  prac- 
tically forbidden,  the  old  arms'  manufacturer's  man- 
ner is  pre-occupied,  though  after  greeting  his  visitor, 
forcing  himself  to  business  affability,  he  remarks :  "  I 
got  the  cable  off,  Captain  Katsuma,  for  those  rapid- 
fires.  Your  government  must  be  in  a  rush." 

"  I  don't  hesitate  to  tell  you  the  Japanese  war  office 
is  in  a  great  hurry,  and  the  same  reason  that  makes 
them  want  speed  induces  me  to  again  call  upon  you  in 
regard  to  your  visit  to  Peking." 

"  Ah,  you  have  spoken  to  Mr.  Passmere.  What  did 
the  bridegroom  say  when  you  invaded  the  sanctity  of 
his  honeymoon  breakfast?  "jeers  the  Yankee  in  rather 
gruff  tone. 

"  What  I  feared  he  would,"  answers  Osuri.  "Mr. 
Passmere,  like  a  brave  man,  is  determined  to  go  to  his 
legation  post  at  Peking.' 

"  But  his  bride  ?  "  asks  Joel,  a  tinge  of  anxiety  in 
his  voice. 

"  Catching  some  hint  of  danger,  Mrs.  Passmere  flew 
out  to  us  with  agonized  face  and  declared  like  a  true 
woman  the  greater  her  husband's  peril,  the  more  she 
insisted  upon  being  by  his  side." 

"  So,  Flora  goes  to  Peking  too,"  mutters  Boardman 
glumly.  Though  he  hasn't  much  faith  in  the  Japanese's 
apprehensions,  he  has  deemed  it  wise  if  possible  to 
leave  his  ewe  lamb  in  Hong  Kong,  or  at  least  in  some 
treaty  port  within  the  protection  of  foreign  war  ves- 
sels; as  for  himself,  with  American  business  instinct, 
he  will  follow  his  own  dollars  into  the  very  jaws  of 
death. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  14? 

"  Undoubtedly !  If  ever  bride  spoke  love  and  de' 
votion,  Mrs.  Passmere  did.  She  will  surely  journey 
with  her  husband,"  replies  Osuri. 

"  By  Jehosh,  that  makes  it  a  little  difficult  for  me  to 
make  the  proper  arrangements  about  Eira's  remain- 
ing behind  me  when  I  leave  for  Peking.  For  just  you 
understand  me,  Katsuma,  I've  had  another  interview 
with  Li  Wong  Chieun.  He  tells  me  my  money  is  ready 
for  me  in  the  Chinese  capital,  and  if  you  soldiers  follow 
bullets,  we  American  business  men  follow  dollars.  J 
am  going  there !  " 

"  It  is  in  that  regard  I  wish  to  see  you.  I  think  the 
matter  of  your  daughter's  remaining  here  may  be  very 
easily  and  even  pleasantly  arranged." 

"  Oh,  you  have  found  some  well-known  woman  oi 
social  position  here  who  is  willing  to  take  the  respon- 
sibility of  my  child  during  my  absence.  For  between 
ourselves,"  the  American  snaps  his  jaws  together, 
"something  has  happened  to-day  to  make  me  feel  that 
I  daren't  leave  Eira  here  with  anything  less  formida- 
ble than  an  old  abbess  or  a  first  class  principal  of  a 
girls'  boarding  school." 

"  I  have  found  some  one  who  is  willing  to  take  the 
responsibility  of  your  daughter,  and  with  whom  I 
think  she  will  be  very  happy  to  remain,"  murmurs  the 
Japanese  suavely. 

"The  lady's  name?" 

"  Not  a  lady ;  a  gentleman ! "' 

"  A  man !  Hell  and  damnation,  what  do  you 
mean?" 

"  I  mean  a  husband." 

"  By  Heaven !  Well  I'm  damned !  You're — you're 
speaking  for  yourself,"  stammers  the  American,  as- 
tounded at  Japanese  coolness. 

"  No,  for  another ;  my  friend,  my  comrade  in  arms, 
my  cadet  chum,  Lieutenant  James  Burton  Ingraham  of 
the  Ninth  Infantry,  who  has  just  arrived  from  San 
Francisco  en  route  for  the  Philippines !  '*  The  last  of 


142  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

this  speech  is  drowned  in  a  torrent  of  explosive,  ejac- 
ulative  profanity  from  the  American  father. 

"  You — you  don't  seem  to  like  my  proposition," 
murmurs  Osuri  sadly. 

"  Like  it  ?  I  hate  it !  "  cries  Joel ;  then  bursts  out 
savagely :  "  By  the  Eternal,  why  does  Eira  want  to 
marry  him  ?  Ingraham's  poor  as  government  embalmed 
beef." 

"Yes,  but  still  a  very  noble  fellow;  one  any  man 
might  be  proud  to  call  son.  As  his  room-mate  for 
four  years  at  West  Point ;  permit  me  to  say  you  are 
honored  in  this  man's  suit." 

"  Shucks !  His  income  wouldn't  pay  my  daughter's 
millinery  bills." 

"  No;  Jim's  father  spent  his  life  fighting  Indians  on 
the  plains,  for  his  country,  not  a  very  lucrative  occu- 
pation; the  son  is  going  to  the  Philippines  to  do  the 
same  thing  for  his  country  there." ' 

"  Hang  it ;  he's  got  no  social  position  to  speak  of." 

"  Of  course  not,"  remarks  the  Japanese.  "  Among 
your  Newport  set  very  few  of  the  navy  or  the  army 
have  social  standing.  It  is  gold-buttons  not  brass-but- 
tions  there.  I  seldom  notice  the  names  of  any  American 
officers  in  your  multi-millionaire  entertainments.  Un- 
like the  higher  ranks  of  every  other  civilized  country, 
American  plutocrats  avoid  giving  social  recog- 
nition to  the  men  who  make  their  millions  safe,  the 
men  who  lay  down  their  lives  to  protect  the  govern- 
ment without  which  their  property  would  be  worthless, 
against  riot  and  anarchy  at  home;  to  defend  their 
homes  against  foreign  invasion ;  to  uphold  its 
commerce  and  prestige  abroad.  Not  that  the  middle 
classes  of  your  republic  do  not  give  all  honor  to  the 
men  who  battle  for  their  country ;  it  is  those  who  are 
most  indebted  to  the  life-blood  which  is  shed  to  protect 
their  weakh  who  do  not  recognize  the  young  officers 
who  wear  the  uniform  of  the  United  States.  Besides, 
you  are  worth  many  millions  of  dollars;  you  have 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  143 

enough  to  support  half  a  hundred  lieutenants  in  luxury. 
Every  time  one  of  your  automatic  rapid-fires  explodes 
is  money  in  your  pocket.  There  have  been  a  good 
many  volleys  fired  in  Cuba,  the  Philippines  and  the 
Transvaal  lately,  and  there's  more  going  to  be  fired  in 
China.  Give  your  daughter  to  the  man  of  her  heart 
that  he  may  take  her  to  Manila  where  she  will  be  safe." 

"Safe?    Pish,  there's  danger  in  the  Philippines!" 

"  Chiefly  from  American  politicians  at  home,"  sneers 
the  Japanese.  "  We  had  a  similar  rebellion  in 
Formosa,  ceded  to  us  after  the  Chinese  war.  Do 
you  think  any  native  of  Dai  Nippon  dared  say :  '  Keep 
killing  my  countrymen  till  I  am  minister  and  I  will 
evacuate  the  island?'  Bah!  You  Yankees  permit  treason 
to  stalk  under  the  name  of  politics.  But  whether  Ma- 
nila is  safe  or  not,  I  can  tell  you  this — your  daughter 
with  her  whole  soul  loves  the  man  to  whom  you  refuse 
her.  If  it  had  not  been  for  me  holding  up  the  horrors 
of  filial  disobedience,  Miss  Boardman  would  ere  now 
probably  have  been  the  wife  of  my  friend." 

"  Then  by  Heaven,  she  wouldn't  have  been  my 
daughter ! "  screams  the  American.  And  growing 
petulant  he  blurts  out :  "  Who  are  you  to  come  med- 
dling in  my  family  affairs  trying  to  induce  me  to  give 
my  child  to  a  pauper  and  bind  herself  down  to  a  life 
of  beggary ;  to  stand  upon  your  high  Shinto  horse  and 
tell  my  daughter  she  must  obey  a  father  she  has  loved 
all  her  dear  life  and  would  still  love,  did  not  you  shoul- 
der-strap fellows  get  about  her  and  turn  her  childish 
head  with  brass  buttons  and  silk  sashes  and  sword 
knots." 

By  this  time  rage  has  made  him  frantic.  He 
moans :  "  Deceived  me  to-day  for  the  first  time ;  my 
God,  my  daughter! "  and  overcome  by  the  thought  of 
the  lovely  girl  he  has  threatened  to  disown,  Joel  Luther 
Boardman  gasps :  "  Heaven  forgive  her !  "  and  sinks 
overcome  with  rage  and  misery  into  a  chair. 

His  last  gasping  cry  has  caught  the  ears  of  a  beauti- 


144  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

ful  girl,  who  is  just  entering.  She  flies  in,  turns  ag- 
onized eyes  upon  the  Japanese,  and  with  feminine  in- 
justice cries:  "You  have  done  this!"  then  throws 
herself  at  her  father's  feet  and  contradicts  herself  by 
pleading :  "  Pardon  me,  father,  pardon  me !  I  will  do 
anything  you  wish,  only  don't  die ;  for  my  sake,  don't 
die!" 

Under  his  daughter's  soothing  hands,  and  calmed 
by  her  penitent  caresses,  the  aged  millionaire  recovers 
so  rapidly  from  his  fit  of  spleen  that  Ingraham,  who 
has  come  in  behind  Eira  and  is  grimly  looking  on, 
mutters :  "  The  cunning  old  scoundrel ;  playing  sick  to 
tear  her  from  me !  " 

For  Eira  has  turned  to  him  and  is  fluttering :  "  For- 
give me  Jim,  forgive  me !  Even  if  we  must  part,  for- 
give me !  " 

But  now  Katsuma  having  naught  to  hope  for,  is  the 
most  collected  of  them  all.  He  says :  "  Mr.  Boardman, 
your  daughter  is  proving  her  devotion  to  you.  Be  no- 
ble enough  not  to  crush  an  affection  which  is  given  to 
the  man  she  would  call  husband.  She  did  not  wish 
to  wed  secretly.  It  was  only  her  love " 

"  And  that  long-mustached  fellow's  importunities, 
who  stands  scowling  at  me  there !  "  growls  her  father ; 
then  suddenly  ejaculates :  "  I  know  what  started  it ; 
Flora's  runaway  match  this  morning!  By  the  Lord 
Harry,  this  cursed  matrimonial  disease  is  infectious !  " 

"  It  is,  with  such  loveliness  about ! "  says  Jim,  who 
has  got  his  arm  about  the  girl's  waist  and  is  pleading 
with  her :  "  Don't  make  me  despair !  You  promised 
to  be  mine.  Your  eyes  looked  true;  don't  make  me 
think  them  false !  " 

And  she  with  anguish  in  her  beautiful  orbs,  is  turn- 
ing first  to  father,  then  to  lover ;  and  sobbing  and  beg- 
ging :  "  Don't  both  of  you  break  my  heart !  Father, 
have  mercy!  Jim,  have  justice!  " 

"  There  is  only  one  way  to  have  justice  in  this  mat- 
ter, Mr.  Boardman,"  says  Katsuma,  nobly.  "  By  Isan- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  145 

agi>  be  generous!  Your  daughter  has  given  you  the 
first  twenty  years  of  her  beautiful  life.  She  is  now  of 
the  age  that  demands  another  love." 

"  I  will,"  mutters  the  old  man,  who  can't  look  upon 
his  half  swooning  child  with  complacency. 

''  Thank  God ! "  both  Jim  and  Eira  cry  together. 

"  I  will— I'll  give  her  to  a  man !  " 

"  And  by  Heavens,  what  arfi  I  ?  "  snarls  the  lieuten- 
ant savagely. 

"  Prove  it !  I  will  give  Eira  to  you  when  you  show 
you're  able  to  make  a  record  for  yourself.  Bring  me 
a  captain's  commission  and  I'll  place  her  hand  in 
yours,"  assents  the  wily  old  man  hoarsely,  recollec- 
tions of  gray-bearded  lieutenants  and  bald-headed  cap- 
tains in  the  United  States  Army  arising  in  his  astute 
mind. 

To  his  astonishment,  his  proposition  is  accepted.  In- 
graham  steps  towards  him  and  says :  "  Before  the 
Spanish  war,  I  should  not  have  taken  your  offer.  It 
would  have  meant  that  your  daughter  wedded  a  gray- 
headed  man.  But  when  a  nation  battles,  her  sons  have 
glory.  In  the  Philippines,  where  death  is  quick,  pro- 
motion is  also  rapid.  Funston  won  a  brigadier-gener- 
alship in  a  year.  If  risking  my  life  will  make  me  a 
captain,  I'll  have  her  in  six  months !  " 

"  Where  death  is  quick !  You  are  going  to  risk  your 
life  for  me!  Father,  you  are  condemning  Jim  to  die 
because  he  loves  me!"  cries  the  girl  hysterically. 
.  "  Not  at  all.  I  know  my  star,  I'll  have  a  wife  in  my 
arms  within  six  months,"  answers  the  lieutenant  in  the 
stout  buoyancy  of  youth.  "  I  accept  your  offer,  Mr. 
Boardman.  Eira,  put  upon  your  hand  my  ring  that 
you  have  worn  secretly.  Flash  it  in  your  father's  face 
to  prove  to  him  that  I'll  come  back  to  you." 

"  Oh  you  will,"  says  Boardman,  forced  to  affability. 
"  Well,  since  the  matter  is  settled,  give  me  your  hand, 
my  boy.  Eira,  run  away  and  dress  for  dinner.  Will 
you  dine  with  me,  Mr.  Ingraham  ?  " 


146  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  Call  him  Jim,  father !  "  commands  his  daughter, 
delight  in  her  beaming  eyes. 

"  Then  Jim,  have  a  family  bite !  " 

"  With  pleasure,  father!" 

"  Oh  my  Lord,  what  a  rapid  fellow  you  are !  And 
you,  Captain  Katsuma  ?  I — I  regret  if  in  an  old  man's 
anger  I  said  anything  that  might  be  discourteous." 

But  the  Japanese,  seeing  the  woman  he  loves  in  an- 
other's arms,  turns  sadly  away  and  mutters :  "  I  have 
urgent  business  down  town.  Please  excuse  me." 

He  opens  the  door  to  be  confronted  by  a  fairy-like 
creature  in  evening  dress,  who  having  heard  cries  out- 
side, remarks  pleasantly :  "  May  I  come  in  Mr.  Board- 
man  ?  I've  accepted  your  invitation  and  run  across  the 
hall  to  see  a  happy  family." 

"  Yes,  come  along  and  see  a  happy  family,"  grins 
Boardman,  wincing. 

Something  in  the  manner  of  the  Japanese  puts  con- 
cern in  the  face  of  Imogene  Passmere.  She  follows  his 
sad  glance  and  gives  a  start ;  her  knees  tremble ;  her 
countenance  twitches ;  the  man  her  passionate  heart  has 
claimed,  has  another  woman  in  his  arms;  and  she  is 
Eira  Boardman,  more  beautiful  even  than  her  picture, 
for  in  the  radiant  eyes  is  the  divine  luster  of  a  happy 
love. 

Notwithstanding  her  torture,  the  fairy's  quick  senses 
note  as  Katsuma  passes  out,  that  his  expressive  Orien- 
tal features  bear  a  misery  greater  than  her  own. 

"  Congratulate  me,  Miss  Imogene,"  says  the  lieuten- 
ant bluffly ;  in  his  hearty  way  ridding  himself  of  an  em- 
barrassment by  meeting  it  in  offhand  boldness :  "  I 
have  just  gained  the  promise  from  the  father  of  the 
girl  whom  I  have  loved  for  many  months." 

"Oh,  ah,  you  are  going  to  marry  her,  at  once?" 
murmurs  Miss  Passmere,  her  eyes  gleaming  for  a  mo- 
ment with  occult  fire  at  this  blow  to  her  pride.  His 
bluff  carelessness  shows  that  Ingraham  has  never  con- 
sidered her  as  having  claim  upon  him. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  M7 

"  Not  for  six  months !"  utters  Jim  ruefully. 

"  No,  not  till  he  has  gone  to  the  Philippines  and  be- 
comes a  captain,"  answers  Boardman. 

"  A — ah !  "  This  is  a  sigh  of  apparent  relief  from  the 
fair  Imogene.  "  Six  months  is  a  long  time  in  that  land 
of  swamp-ambushes  and  bolomen,"  she  observes 
slowly,  contemplation  disguising  malice. 

"  Oh  don't  talk  of  it,"  cries  Eira.  "  Whoever  you 
are,  don't  talk  of  it." 

At  this,  Jim  laughingly  introducing  Miss  Board- 
man ;  the  fairy  prattles  archly :  "Oho,  she  is  the  young 
lady  whom  Captain  Katsuma  called  '  a  business 
cable.'  " 

And  this  bringing  something  into  Boardman's  mind, 
he  asks  sternly :  ''  Eira,  where  were  you  all  this  after- 
noon?" 

"  In  a  sampan,  sailing  over  blue  waters  in  the  arms 
of  the  man  I  love,"  answers  his  daughter  proudly. 
Whereupon  truth  destroying  anger,  the  old  gentleman 
rises,  chucks  the  bethrothed  under  the  chin,  and 
chuckles :  "  What  did  you  intend  to  tell  me  an  hour 
ago  when  returning  on  that  sampan?" 

"  She  expected  to  tell  you  she  was  my  wife ;  as  she 
would  have  been,  had  it  not  been  for  Boom-de-rah's 
Shinto  advice,"  sighs  Ingraham,  a  longing  in  his 
Saxon  eyes. 

"  Hang  it,  so  if  I  hadn't  given  my  consent,  you 
would  have  been  as  flighty  as  Flora,  eh  ?  "  queries  the 
old  man,  playfully  pinching  his  daughter's  ear. 

And  this  leading  to  explanations,  they  all  sit  down 
and  discuss  Mrs.  Passmere's  hurried  nuptials. 

"  I  think  I'll  have  to  give  some  little  entertainment 
for  Flora,"  remarks  the  millionaire  pleasantly,  making 
the  best  of  what  he  considers  a  bad  bargain,  "  just  to 
show  I  have  forgiven  my  niece." 

"  Yes,  papa;  you  must !  "  asserts  his  daughter. 

"  Oh,  that  would  be  delightful,"  cries  Imogene  clap- 
ping her  hands.  "  You  know  it  would  please  my 


148  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

brother  so.  He  has  got  shortly  to  go  to — was  it  to 
Peking  you  said,  Mr.  Boardman  ?  You  are  going  also, 
are  you  not?  Some  words  you  spoke  to  the  Chinese 
commissioner  made  me  guess  that.  You  take  Miss 
Eira  with  you  ?" 

"  Not  if  I  can  find  the  proper  person  to  leave  her 
with.  The  Japanese  captain  thinks  there  may  be 
trouble  there,"  remarks  Boardman. 

"  Trouble  in  Peking?"  laughs  Miss  Passmere,  utter- 
ing the  usual  Eastern  formula.  "  Oh  you  do  not  know 
China  very  well.  They  always  say  there  is  going  to  be 
trouble  in  Peking.  But  no  one  has  ever  seen  it." 

"  Well,  I'll  invite  your  brother  and  his  bride  and  we 
will  discuss  the  affair  over  a  dinner;  not  to-morrow, 
but  the  day  after,"  answers  the  manufacturer. 

"  Yes  the  day  after,"  remarks  Miss  Boardman,  but 
no  later;  for,  O  Jim,  a  Philippine  transport  sails  on 
Friday." 

"  Well,  don't  cry  about  it.  Run  away  and  slip  on 
your  dinner  frock,"  says  Boardman  cheerily.  "  You 
are  already  robed  for  the  evening,  I  perceive,  Miss 
Passmere.  By  the  bye,  you're  alone  in  the  hotel;  in- 
stead of  dining  in  your  rooms  as  etiquette  rather  re- 
quires single  ladies  to  do  here,  give  me  the  pleasure  of 
your  company  at  my  dinner  table,  for  I  know  to-night 
my  daughter  will  have  only  eyes  and  tongue  for  an- 
other gentleman." 

This  is  said  in  such  sad  pathos,  that  his  daughter 
goes  up  tc  the  old  millionaire,  puts  tender  arms  about 
him,  drops  two  tears  upon  his  wrinkled  cheeks,  and 
gives  him  a  very  loving  kiss. 

"  Very  well,  I'll  take  pity  on  pater  familias! "  laughs 
Imogene  and  accepts  the  invitation. 

But  a  dinner  spent  watching  the  bethrothed  brings 
too  great  a  misery ;  and  quite  early  in  the  evening  Miss 
Passmere  excuses  herself. 

Getting  to  her  own  apartments,  with  the  peculiar, 
unreasoning,  selfish  passion  in  which  some  women  in- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  149 

dulge,  she  sighs :  "  Jim  in  his  whole  life  never  kissed 
me — and  yet  one  moonlight  night  behind  that  deck 
house  I  think  he  would,  had  it  not  been  for  that  ac- 
cursed meddling  Chinese  steward.  But  this  evening  I 
saw  him  fondle  that  Cleopatra  behind  the  curtains  of 
the  bay  window.  Oh,  how  I  hate  her !  "  Then  a  spark 
of  her  horrible  heredity  tinging  her  reflective  face,  she 
mutters :  "  Six  months !  "  Her  eyes  grow  bright  with 
some  uncanny  hope  as  she  continues :  "  His  chum,  the 
Japanese  loves  Eira  Boardman  also.  She  will  marry 
the  man  of  my  heart  within  six  months!  Will  she? 
Not  if  Imogene  Passmere  is  as  wicked  a  little  girl  as 
she  thinks  herself." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  DINNER  AT  THE  PEAK  HOTEL. 

Two  evenings  after,  Mr.  Boardman's  dinner  party  at 
the  Peak  Hotel,  is  quite  a  social  success.  The  company 
is  numerous  for  a  gastronomic  entertainment,  several 
colonial  magnates,  both  military  and  civil,  with  their 
wives,  lend  their  dignity  to  the  fete,  and  two  or  three 
bachelor  dandies  from  Her  Majesty's  forces  give  it 
martial  romance.  These  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray, 
pretty  Laura  Inglis,  Lady  Inglis'  niece,  and  clashing 
Charlotte  Coventry,  the  daughter  of  a  colonel  of  one  of 
its  regiments  and  belle  of  the  garrison,  make  up  the 
company  for  dinner.  Though  for  the  little  dance  to 
take  place  later  in  the  evening,  quite  a  number  of  social 
lights  have  promised  appearance:  among  these 
are  an  East  Indian  Maharaja  and  his  Excellency,  the 
Chinese  Commissioner,  the  old  arms  manufacturer  be- 
ing very  solicitous  as  to  the  Indian  prince,  hoping  to 
get  another  order  from  Dujeb-Sing  for  rapid-fires  to 
equip  that  potentate's  native  contingent. 


150  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

The  dinner  passes  off  very  pleasantly,  Mrs.  Pass- 
mere,  in  whose  honor  the  entertainment  is  practically 
given,  appearing  extremely  beautiful  and  very  proudly 
happy  as  she  enters  on  her  youthful  but  stalwart  hus- 
band's arm  to  be  affectionately  greeted  by  her  cousin 
and  her  uncle.  Behind  her  trips  Miss  Passmere,  in 
fairy  tulle  and  gauze,  looking  very  pretty,  for  though 
of  slight  appearance,  Imogene  is  a  plump  little  wretch, 
with  very  white  and  gracefully  rounded  shoulders, 
which  she  displays  with  a  prodigality  unusual  in  one 
who  pretends  to  missionary  longings. 

Though  she  knows  she  looks  her  best;  the  girl 
is  not  happy,  being  conscious  she  is  eclipsed  by  the 
ethereal  though  Venus-like  beauty  of  the  woman 
she  hates.  Besides  Flora,  who  by  her  husband's  di- 
rection is  magnificently  robed,  as  bride  receives  so 
much  attention  that  Miss  Passmere  feels  over- 
shadowed and  is  ignobly  but  placidly  envious  of  a 
woman  whom  she  now  regards  as  simply  part  of  her 
brother's  personal  estate ;  a  puppet,  to  be  used  for  his 
pleasure  and  benefit — and  incidentally  for  her  own. 

So  it  is  not  -in  a  particularly  benign  frame  of  mind 
that  the  young  lady  who  claims  missionary  aspirations 
partakes  of  a  Lucullus-like  meal  seated  at  the  side  of 
Major  Tilford  of  the  East  Anglias  and  listens  to  that 
warrior's  commonplace  gallantries  with  such  affected 
interest  and  modestly  down-cast  looks  interspersed 
with  sufficient  maiden  blushes  to  inspire  that  conceited 
officer  with  the  thought  that  he  has  made  another  con- 
quest. 

The  fact,  that  after  a  few  necessary  courtesies  to  the 
ladies  near  him  at  the  table,  the  handsome  Saxon-faced 
American  lieutenant  devotes  all  his  attention  to  his 
betrothed,  who  sits  happily  at  his  side,  though  Miss 
Passmere  herself  is  almost  immediately  opposite  him, 
does  not  increase  Imogene's  amiability.  Soon  after 
this  a  conversation  between  Mr.  Boardman  and  her 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  151 

brother  makes  this  young  lady  prick  up  her  sharp  little 
ears. 

"  My  niece  accompanies  you  to  Peking,  Passmere?  " 
inquires  Flora's  uncle. 

"  Yes,  we  start  within  the  week !  "  replies  Arthur. 

"  You  think  it  perfectly  safe  to  take  your  bride 
there  ?  "  There  is  a  tinge  of  anxiety  in  Boardman's 
tone. 

"Safe?  How  do  you  mean?  There's  no  epidemic 
there !  " 

"  No,  I  referred  to  uprising,  riot,  revolt." 

"  Pish !  "  answers  the  bridegroom  easily.  "  Peking 
is  as  safe  as  any  capital  under  the  sun.  Of  course, 
there  are  accidents  everywhere.  A  Chih-li  pony  cart 
may  run  away  with  you.  Still  the  Purple  City  is  a  good 
deal  safer  than  Luzon  where  you're  going,  Mr.  In- 
graham,"  continues  Arthur  who  has  been  introduced 
to  the  lieutenant.  "  Aside  from  Filipino  bullets,  they 
have  earthquakes  in  Manila,  awful  ones;  and  there's 
no  record  of  seismic  disturbance  in  Peking.  I  believe 
it  is  even  safer  than  Tokio,  where  Captain  Katsuma, 
who  probably  has  been  talking  to  you  as  well  as  me  of 
the  danger  of  the  Mongolian  capital,  comes  from.  They 
have  hurricanes  in  Tokio,  and  Pekin  is  too  far  inland 
for  typhoons."  Here  the  bridegroom  pauses  to  gaze  in 
uneasy  jealousy  at  his  bride  who,  seated  across  the 
table  and  at  some  distance  from  him,  has  apparently 
gone  to  her  old  tricks  with  Mr.  Burroughs  of  the  Ar- 
tillery on  one  side  and  young  Gaddin  of  the  Oriental 
Bank  on  the  other. 

"  I'm  mighty  glad  that  is  your  opinion,"  remarks 
Joel.  "  You  have  had  a  good  deal  of  experience  in 
China  too,  haven't  you,  Passmere?" 

"  Yes,  lots  in  Northern  and  Central  China,  but  very 
little  about  here." 

Whereupon  several  other  gentlemen  who  are  old 
Eastern  residents  go  to  poohpoohing  the  idea  of  any 
serious  danger  to  legations  or  missionaries  in  the 


I $2  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

Chinese  capital ;  General  Inglis  observing :  "  My  dear 
Boardman,  Sir  Claude  Macdonald  keeps  his  family 
there,  and  that  should  be  proof  enough.  Besides  Hart, 
the  general  inspector  of  Chinese  customs,  remains  there 
with  his  wife  and  he  knows  the  Empire  from  Chih-li 
to  Yunnan." 

To  this  Boardman  replies :  "  I  am  delighted  that 
those  are  your  opinions,  as  I  am  going  there  myself  and 
would  like  to  take  my  daughter  with  me." 

"  Well  I  tell  you  she'll  be  as  safe  there  as  here,"  re- 
marks Inglis.  "  Not  a  single  legation  lady  has  left  the 
capital  or  has  prepared  to  go.  I'll  give  you  a  letter  of 
introduction  to  Sir  Claude  and  he  and  Lady  Macdon- 
ald will  cause  you  to  think  legation  life  a  dream  Miss 
Eira." 

"  That  makes  my  mind  easy,"  returns  her  father. 
"  I've  got  a  pretty  tidy  sum  of  taels  due  me  from  the 
Chinese  government,  awaiting  me  in  the  Chinese  cap- 
ital ;  and  Li  Wong  Chieun  suggests  my  accompanying 
him  up  there  to  get  them !  " 

"  I  wish  I  had  to  run  up  that  way  myself  to  get  a 
lot  of  taels,"  laughs  Gaddin.  "  May  be  I  wouldn't 
take  the  Shanghai  steamer  in  a  hurry !  " 

For  at  this  time  the  cloud  hovering  over  the  Celestial 
capital  seemed  to  most  Anglo-Chinese  men  of  affairs 
no  bigger  than  a  baby's  hand ;  and  "  wolf  "  had  been 
shrieked  so  often  by  missionary  shepherds  all  over  the 
Celestial  Empire  that  people  had  ceased  to  pay  any 
attention  to  their  cries. 

"  Just  postpone  your  Peking  trip  for  a  week  or  two 
Mr.  Passmere  and  I  and  my  daughter'll  help  make  a 
family  party  of  it,"  says  the  American,  his  mind  re- 
lieved. 

With  this,  the  conversation  turning  to  other  sub- 
jects, Miss  Imogene  gets  to  wondering  why  Li  Wong 
Chieun  wants  Mr.  Boardman  to  visit  Peking,  though 
her  conversation  runs  along  something  after  this  man- 
ner: 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  153 

"  Oh,  Major  Tilford,"  she  glances  coquettishly  at 
the  warrior  over  her  fan,  "  how  dare  you  say  such 
naughty  things  to  me.  You  know  I'm  thinking  of  be- 
ing a  missionary  and  not  accustomed  to  sit  beside  you 
awful  military  men.  You  must  stop.  'You'll  really 
take  my  thoughts  from  Heaven ! " 

To  this  the  warrior  utters  an  astounding  yet  admir- 
ing "  By  Jove !  "  and  goes  to  eating  broiled  chicken  and 
Peking  mushrooms ;  while  the  girl  noting  that  the  Jap- 
anese captain  isn't  present,  meditates :  "  Katsuma  re- 
fused to  stay  the  other  night;  he  has  not  accepted 
Mr.  Boardman's  invitation  this  evening.  Can  it  be 
possible  this  military  fellow  hasn't  as  strong  a  nerve 
as  I,  to  look  upon  a  rival's  happiness?  "  Suddenly  she 
pats  her  little  hands  admiringly  together  beneath  the 
table  cloth,  and  smiles  ripple  her  face  as  she  reflects : 
"  Oh  how  sharp  Japey  is.  Had  it  not  been  for  his  per- 
suasive eloquence  as  to  reverence  for  parents  and  all 
that  Shinto  rubbish,  instead  of  Miss  Hated  Blue-eyes 
being  his  betrothed,  Jim  Ingraham  would  be  calling 
her  his  wife.  Japey  is  a  corker!  Smoother  than  the 
lacquered  floors  of  his  own  temples."  Then  she  won- 
ders :  "  Could  not  I  make  stupid  Jim  quarrel  with  his 
chum  of  chums  who  has  blocked  his  marriage.  That 
would  take  from  the  game  the  only  man  I  fear,  the 
captain  of  the  First  Tokios  with  his  mathematical  brain 
and  searching  eyes." 

But  here  catching  her  brother'o  look  of  suave  disap- 
proval directed  at  his  bride  over  the  floral  decorations 
of  the  table,  Imogene  grins  "  What  a  fool  Flora  is ! 
At  her  old  tricks.  But  she  couldn't  help  coquetting 
with  her  confessor  in  devotional  Bruges  so  we  should 
not  expect  too  much  of  her  with  a  dashing  officer  whis- 
pering into  her  ear.  If  I  know  Arthur,  there  will  be 
penance  for  Madame  Flirt  to-morrow." 

In  this  she  does  Mrs.  Passmere  an  injustice.  The 
truth  is  Flora  is  not  flirting — merely  tremendously 
embarrassed.  Her  uncle  having  been  compelled  by  et- 


154  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

iquette  to  take  in  Lady  Inglis,  the  bride  has  fallen  by 
ill  luck  to  the  escort  of  reckless  Mr.  Burroughs  of  the 
Artillery. 

And  this  gentleman,  proud  of  a  beautiful  woman's 
surreptitious  interview  with  him  on  her  wedding  day, 
is  perhaps  ungenerously  taking  advantage  of  it.  He 
is  whispering:  "  I  didn't  guess  how  awfully  kind  you 
were  to  me,  Mrs.  Passmere,  when  last  we  met.  If  you 
had  told  me  a  husband  of  an  hour  was  awaiting  you  in- 
side the  Peak  Hotel,  it  would  have  added  a  good  deal 
of  piquant  romance  to  the  interview,  wouldn't  it  ?  " 

Noting  from  across  the  table  the  blushes  that  fly 
over  his  wife's  face,  the  Honorable  Arthur  remember- 
ing the  interview  also,  gives  his  wife  full  credit  for 
reviving  her  prenuptual  flirtation  with  handsome  Bur- 
roughs of  the  Artillery,  and  grows  very  savagely  jeal- 
ous. 

Soon  after  as  the  ladies  pass  from  the  table,  Imogene, 
finding  herself  beside  Ingraham,  who  has  gallantly 
risen,  whispers :  "  Captain  Katsuma  is  too  much  over- 
come by  the  general  happiness  to  be  here  this  evening, 
eh?" 

"Oh,  I  think  Boom-de-rah  will  be  along  a  little  later 
to  the  dance,"  mutters  Jim. 

"  Mr.  Boardman  must  have  invited  him,"  suggests 
the  fairy  in  pointed  archness,  "  he  owes  him  so  much." 

"  Owes  him  so  much?    How  ;  for  arms'  contracts?  " 

"  No !  Had  it  not  been  for  Katsuma's  astute  advice, 
Mr.  Boardman  would  have  lost  his  daughter ;  and  your 
bride  would  have  been  passing  out  of  that  door  now." 
With  these  crafty  words,  she  trips  out  after  Eira 
Boardman,  leaving  that  young  lady's  betrothed  with  a 
very  nasty  thought  in  his  mind  about  his  West  Point 
comrade. 

Among  the  guests  for  the  dance,  as  Ingraham  has 
predicted,  strolls  in  Captain  Katsuma. 

Still  Miss  Passmere's  innuendo  fails  of  its  effect; 
simply  because  for  four  years  as  cadets  these  men  had 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  155 

walked  hand  in  hand,  and  knew  and  loved  and  trusted. 

The  music  of  a  military  band  floats  through  the 
flower-decked  ballroom.  Mr.  Boardman  is  welcoming 
His  Highness  Dujeb-Sing,  who  enters  a  blaze  of  diam- 
onds, rubies  and  other  precious  stones. 

The  American  arms  manufacturer  is  saying:  "  Mah- 
araja, I'm  opposed  to  talking  business  when  there  are 
so  many  pretty  girls  about,  but  I  can't  keep  quiet  about 
our  new  rapid-fires,  i  want  you  to  let  me  take  you 
over  to  the  rifle  range  at  Kau-lung,  and  show  you  one 
of  my  new  patents.  It  is  just  as  good  as  a  whole  regi- 
ment of  infantry.  I  always  carry  two  or  three  of  them 
packed  up  about  with  me  and  ammunition  enough  to 
fight  a  battle." 

"  I  would  like  to  see  one,"  returns  His  Highness 
pleasantly.  "  I  have  sometimes  thought  it  might  be 
interesting  to  use  one  of  the  automatic  rapid-fires  tiger 
shooting." 

"  That  would  be  an  idea !  "  returns  the  American  en- 
thusiastically. "  Eira,  come  and  welcome  His  High- 
ness, who  is  going  to  shoot  tigers  in  his  Nepal  jungle 
with  a  Boardman  and  Colburn  30  calibre  automatic.  I 
have  no  doubt  he  will  give  you  a  skin ;  though  after 
one  of  my  rapid-fires  has  got  through  with  the  king  of 
the  jungle,  his  pelt  will  be  as  full  of  holes  as  a  col- 
lender." 

Rather  laughing  at  this,  Jim  Ingraham  strolls  with 
Osuri  Katsuma  out  of  one  of  the  windows  thrown  open 
to  permit  the  air  to  circulate  during  this  torrid  evening. 
From  the  balcony  they  look  silently  down  upon  Hong 
Kong  which  lies  dimly  beautiful  beneath  them  in  the 
soft  darkness  of  the  tropic  night ;  its  harbor  lights 
flickering  below  them  like  fallen  stars.  The  two  are 
together  to  say  some  words  of  soldiers'  farewell,  for 
the  American  leaves  on  the  morrow  for  the  Philippines, 
and  the  Japanese,  having  concluded  his  arms  contracts 
returns  to  the  General  Staff  at  Tokio.  The  band  is 
playing  an  old  West  Point  air,  one  that  they  had  lis- 


156  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

tened  to  together  often  upon  the  green  parade  ground 
above  the  Hudson.  A  comrade  feeling  is  in  their 
hearts. 

A  moment  after  Ingraham  says  reflectively :  "  You 
have  an  enemy  in  the  ballroom,  Osuri." 

"Indeed;  who?" 

"  Little  Miss  Passmere  by  her  words  tried  to  make 
trouble  between  us.  Duels  have  been  fought  for  less 
than  she  insinuated." 

"  But  not  between  you  and  me,"  whispers  Katsuma, 
gripping  his  comrade's  hand.  "  What  was  it  she 
said  ?  "  And  the  lieutenant  making  answer,  the  Japa- 
nese remarks  simply :  "  I  do  not  think  she  hates  me, 
but  is  jealous  of  you." 

"  Jealous  of  me ;  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Well  I  think  Miss  Passmere,  for  vanity  or  some 
other  woman's  reason,  regards  the  ordinary  gallantries 
she  received  at  your  hands  on  the  long  tropic  voyage 
from  San  Francisco  as  indicative  of  something  more 
than  you  meant  by  them.  You — didn't  give  her  cause 
to,  I  hope.  You  couldn't — when  you  had  Eira  Board- 
man's  love." 

"  I  did  not.  Perhaps  I  might  have,  for  the  girl  has 
a  kind  of  mystic  fascination,"  replies  the  American, 
"  but  thank  God,  I  thought  in  time." 

"  Thank  God  also !  " 

"  You,  I  imagine,  Osuri,  had  you  been  as  blessed  as 
I,  would  never  look  at  another  woman." 

"  Never  look  at  another  woman  if  Eira — o-h  God  of 
Gods,  Jim '  The  strong  man  bends  over  the  bal- 
cony and  looks  down  into  the  distant  town  so  that  his 
comrade  blessed  by  the  woman  who  but  four  days  ago 
had  been  Osuri's  hope  in  life  can't  see  the  agony  of  his 
face. 

"  I  feared  as  much,  old  fellow,"  mutters  Ingraham 
quietly.  "  By  Heaven,  no  one  should  guess  how  much 
you  lose  better  than  I.  But  you  know  I  saw  the  sun 
before  you  did," 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  157 

"  Yes !  "  murmurs  the  Japanese  sadly.  "  Therefore 
the  war  which  I  see  is  coming — is — is  welcome  to  me. 
I  pray  for  forgetfulness  in  the  excitement  of  battle." 
Then  his  face  becomes  almost  inspired,  his  eyes  flame, 
he  continues  enthusiastically :  "  If  it  comes  as  I  expect, 
the  banners  of  the  civilized  world  will  meet  and  tangle 
on  the  soil  of  China.  There  we  hope  to  show  Europe 
that  Dai-Nippon  is  not  merely  the  nation  of  paper- 
screens,  geisha  girls,  jugglers,  fireworks  and  Sat- 
suma  vases  that  it  now  thinks  us ;  but  a  nation  of  men 
who  are  as  brave  for  their  Mikado  as  the  Old  Guard 
was  for  Napoleon  Bonaparte — and  in  addition  has  such 
modern  science  and  military  skill  that  it  must  now  be 
reckoned  one  of  the  great  powers  of  the  earth.  That 
when  the  Japanese  bugles  sound,  there  is  an  army 
who  man  for  man  and  gun  for  gun  can  stand  against 
the  world." 

"  And  in  that  matter  I  want  to  speak  to  you  as  man 
to  man,  as  comrade  to  comrade,"  remarks  Jim  Ingra- 
ham  earnestly.  "My  duty  calls  me  to  the  Philippines. 
For  some  reason  you  seem  to  fear  there  may  be  danger 
to  the  woman  of  my  heart  in  Peking." 

"  I  do,  thoroughly !  " 

"  No  one  else  does,"  replies  the  lieutenant,  "  for  I 
have  made  inquiry.  People  smile  and  say  it  is  the  old 
missionary  wail.  Still  you  will  be  near  her,  and  I  far 
away.  To  show  how  1  trust  you,  I  say,  Osuri,  should 
danger  come,  do  for  the  woman  who  has  given  herself 
to  my  love  as  you  would,  had  she  given  herself  to  your 
love ;  look  to  her  safety  as  if  she  were  to  be  your  wife, 
not  mine !  " 

"  I  will  with  my  heart's  blood,  by  Izanagi! "  mutters 
the  other.  Conquering  an  awful  longing  conjured  up 
by  Ingraham's  potent  suggestion,  the  Japanese  quietly 
holds  out  his  hand  in  Anglo-Saxon  fashion  and  the 
American  grips  it  with  a  mute  trust  that  is  the  stronger 
for  its  silence. 

As  for  the  fairy  who  would  have  produced  strife 


15$  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

between  this  Jonathan  and  David  who  love  each  other, 
in  the  ballroom  she  is  discovering  what  has  been  until 
now  a  dark  page  to  her  brilliant  yet  uncanny  mind.  She 
is  divining  why  Li  Wong  Chieun  wants  Mr.  Boardman 
and  his  daughter  to  visit  Peking. 

Into  the  throng  of  beautiful  women  and  gallant  men 
strides  the  Chinese-high-commissioner  to  be  welcomed 
cordially  by  his  host.  Covered  with  a  shame  that  makes 
her  half  crazy  at  the  sight  of  this  Chinese  potentate, 
Imogene  Passmere  has  covered  and  shrunk  away  into  a 
nook  filled  with  growing  palms  and  potted  flowing 
plants.  Quivering  and  trembling  in  every  limb,  like  a 
bird  fascinated  by  a  snake,  she  can't  keep  her  eyes  off 
the  Chinese  mandarin. 

Just  then  the  fair  young  hostess  looking  like  a  sylph, 
her  eyes  pure  as  the  blue  heavens,  yet  sparkling  in 
happy  radiance  like  the  sun,  stands  before  Li  Wong 
Chieun  extending  her  delicate  hand.  The  beautiful 
American  girl  is  saying  words  of  welcome  to  the  man- 
darin who  is  decked  with  peacock  feathers  and  wear- 
ing his  yellow  girdle  of  imperial,  descent ;  his  red  coral 
button  showing  his  rank  is  second  only  to  a  viceroy. 

He  is  bowing  before  Eira  Boardman.  As  he  gazes 
upon  her  ethereal  yet  womanly  loveliness,  into  the 
Mongolian's  sleepy  eyes  flies  a  look  that  Imogene  shud- 
dering and  growing  cold  as  ice  and  deathly  sick,  re- 
members ! 

The  brilliant  ballroom  becomes  to  her  red  as  blood 
with  shame.  She  stands  again  in  the  judgment  hall  in 
the  mud-walled  yamen.  Within  those  yellow,  fishy, 
almond-shaped  eyes  is  the  same  monkey  look  Li  Wong 
Chieun  had  cast  upon  her,  as  she,  shrinking  from  her 
executioners,  to  escape  the  torture,  had  yielded  her 
fair  self  to  the  shuddering  ignominy  and  sickening 
abasement  of  his  uncanny  Mongolian  passion. 

Suddenly  Li  Wong  Chieun's  cruel  yamen  changes 
to  Mr.  Boardman's  brilliant  ballroom  again,  with  its 
dashing  men,  bright  uniformed  officers  and  chatting 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  159 

and  laughing  women  robed  in  the  latest  Parisian 
modes ;  Arthur  Passmere  is  strolling  with  pretty  Laura 
Inglis  on  his  arm,  past  his  Chinese  Excellency. 

For  one  instant  their  glances  meet;  then  as  if  by 
mutual  consent  their  looks  follow  their  young  hostess, 
who  has  turned  away  to  dance  with  some  beseeching 
cavalier. 

As  her  brother's  and  the  Chinese  magnate's  eyes 
again  meet,  the  fairy  utters  a  weird,  horrible,  mocking, 
devilish  little  giggle ;  she  mutters  in  rasping  cruel  voice 
this  awful  sentiment :  "Jim  Ingraham,  I  could  only 
offer  you  tainted  arms;  why  should  hers  be  purer?" 


CHAPTER  XII. 

KILLING   THREE   BIRDS    WITH   ONE   STONE. 

But  malice  for  the  woman  does  not  destroy  passion 
for  the  man,  and  there  is  an  unhappy  little  fairy  at 
Pedder's  Wharf  the  next  morning  waiting  among 
other  friends  and  well-wishers  to  bid  Jim  Ingraham 
bon  voyage  for  the  Philippines. 

The  big  transport  in  the  roads  has  its  steam  up ;  the 
launches  are  ready  to  take  out  its  passengers ;  into  the 
circle  about  the  Saxon-faced,  curly-haired  lieutenant, 
Miss  Passmere  robed  in  white  like  a  modest  lily  of  the 
valley,  squeezes  herself.  Perchance  she  has  a  forlorn 
hope  that  her  beau  of  the  Pacific  voyage  may  remember 
the  moonlit  deck  of  the  Rio  Janiero;  for  never  did  girl 
favor  cavalier  with  a  more  alluringly  sad  smile.  But 
even  in  this  moment  of  parting,  the  cavalier's  free,  off- 
hand manner  makes,  from  its  very  carelessness,  her 
fast-beating  little  heart  very  heavy. 

To  a  faint  squeeze  of  his  strong  hand  by  petitioning 
fingers,  and  a  half-whispered  pleading:  "  Don't  forget 
me,  Jim !  "  he  says  in  easy  affability :  "  I'm  mighty 


l6o  tANGLED  FLAGS. 

glad  you  came  down  to  see  me  off,  Miss  Imogene  ",. 
then  lifting  his  hat,  turns  hastily  away ;  for  Eira  Board- 
man,  whose  eyes  are  now  becoming  wild,  has  just 
stepped  upon  the  landing  stage  accompanied  by  her 
father.  They  are  going  in  the  steam-launch  with  him 
to  the  transport,  and  Katsuma  is  already  arranging  the 
cushions  in  its  stern  sheets  for  a  graceful  form  and  see- 
ing that  its  awning  will,  keep  the  sun  fully  out  of  an  ex- 
quisite face  that  is  growing  agonized. 

Suddenly  with  a  start,  Miss  Passmere  wonders  what 
they  mean.  Ingraham  says  hoarsely :  "Remember ! 
Osuri,  remember !  " 

"  With  my  life !  "  replies  Katsuma,  and  the  two  give 
each  other  that  silent  Anglo-Saxon  grip  which  seems 
to  mean  more  than  any  other  salutation  between  men. 

So  Ingraham  aiding  the  women  of  his  love  into  the 
boat,  leaves  behind  him  a  pale-faced  girl,  with  two  hec- 
tic spots  of  passion  on  her  cheeks,  whose  gray  eyes  roll 
themselves  in  an  uncany  way  towards  her  successful 
rival.  Perchance  had  Jim  been  more  tender  at  this  time 
Imogene  had  in  the  future  been  more  merciful. 

Twenty  minutes  after,  on  the  deck  of  the  Tsim-tsa- 
Tsui  ferry  boat  on  its  way  to  the  Kau-lung  peninsula, 
Miss  Passmere,  stepping  aside  from  little  Harold,  his 
attendant  and  her  maid,  gazes  longingly  upon  the 
American  transport  already  under  headway  for  Luzon. 
To  herself  she  mutters  bitterly:  "He  looked  only 
at  her.  It  is  not  always  wise,  my  soldier  boy,  to 
scorn  those  who  love  as  I  do."  Intensifying  her 
passion  till  it  is  morbid,  she  wrings  her  slight  hands 
and  sighs :  "  Jim  !  My  Jim  !  Accursed  be  this  blue- 
eyed  witch  who  has  come  between  us!" 

Then  the  Occidental  and  Oriental  boat  with  steam 
up  attracts  her  attention,  and  knowing  that  the 
Japanese  captain  sails  for  Tokio  upon  her,  she 
thinks:  "He  is  well  out  of  the  way.  The 
strangest  thing  is  that  Katsuma  loves  his  rival! 
Pish,  impossible!  All  men  who  worship  one 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  l6l 

woman  hate  each  other ;  only  Captain  Chrysanthemum 
is  smarter  than  a  Parsee.  Oh  these  Orientals,  these 
Orientals !  "  she  half  giggles ;  next  starts  as  she  thinks : 
"  Arthur's  eyes  said  something  to  that  accursed  man- 
darin as  he  glanced  on  Eira  Boardman.  What?  I'll 
know  that  very  shortly — for  in  it  perhaps  is  my  re- 
venge !  " 

In  a  by  no  means  benign  yet  strangely  inquisitive 
mood  Imogene  makes  her  appearance  at  the  Honora- 
ble Arthur's  Kau-lung  bungalow.  With  her  are  Mas- 
ter Harold,  his  ayah  and  general  impedimenta;  the 
French  nurse,  who  has  an  active  tongue,  having  been 
deftly  shipped  at  Miss  Passmere's  suggestion  to  Ton- 
kin, where  Lizette  has  a  lover  among  the  Gallic  gar- 
rison. 

Immediately  upon  arrival,  such  is  her  discontent, 
Miss  Passmere  promptly  and  ignobly  envies  Flora's 
radiant  face,  as  the  bride  hearing  her  child's  voice,  flies 
out  on  the  veranda  to  give  Harold  a  mother's  kiss. 

"Madre  mia,"  lisps  the  polyglot,  who  has  picked  up 
a  little  Spanish  from  some  Filipino  brats  he  has  played 
with  in  the  Hong  Kong  gardens.  "Kiss  meine  neue 
Tante.  She  was  bully  to  me !  " 

This  Flora  does  with  hearty  good  will,  exclaim- 
ing :  "  Imogene,  God  bless  you  for  being  so  kind  to  my 
little  one ! "  And  both  ladies  petting  Harold,  run 
down  the  steps  with  the  boy  and  have  a  girlish  romp 
with  the  urchin  in  the  beautiful  garden  of  Mr.  Pass- 
mere's  villa. 

Upon  this  frolic,  Arthur,  strolling  out  cheroot  in 
mouth,  looks  down  complacently.  "  Working  the 
mother  by  the  child,"  he  grins.  "  Flora  will  be  like 
putty  in  Genie's  claws.  Smart  little  girl,  my  sister. 
She'll  take  a  lot  of  care  off  my  shoulders." 

Whereupon  he  steps  into  the  garden  and  pats  the 
urchin's  head.  For  this  caress  he  gets  a  grateful  kiss 
ifrom  Flora,  and  a  few  minutes  after  leaving  Mrs. 


1 62  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Passmere  fondling  her  boy,  the  brother  and  sister  walk 
off  to  private  interview  in  Arthur's  study. 

This  is  a  very  pleasant  room  upon  the  second  floor 
of  the  house,  two  big  windows  giving  view  of  the 
Hong  Kong  strait  and  furnishing  access  for  monsoon 
breezes.  Near  its  center  stands  the  writing  table  of 
the  lord  and  master  of  the  bungalow ;  upon  it  his  pa- 
pers and  account  books.  These  have  lately  been 
greatly  increased  by  a  number  of  bank  books  from 
which  the  name  of  Flora  E.  Elton  has  been  erased  and 
replaced  by  that  of  Arthur  T.  Passmere. 

Upon  these  Imogene  turns  gloating  eyes  and  whis- 
pers :  "  Is  everything  in  your  name  ?  " 

"  To  a  cash !  "  answers  Arthur  cheerfully,  "  My 
wife  very  dutifully  wrote  all  the  letters  I  desired  to 
her  bankers." 

"  Ah,  and  she  required  no  coercion?  " 

"  Not  a  bit,"  laughs  the  bridegroom.  "  For  a  kiss  1 
could  have  Flora's  head.  But,"  he  continues,  "  though 
I  admire  my  bride's  beauty  like  the  deuce  and  am  gen- 
erally fond  of  her,  don't  yer  know,  I'm  tired  of  being 
her  dry  nurse,  don't  yer  see.  Had  to  do  some  shopping 
over  in  Hong  Kong  with  her  yesterday.  It  was  beastly 
tedious,  can't  yer  understand,"  he  shudders.  "  So  as  I 
have  some  very  important,  business  to  attend  to,  I  wish 
you  would  take  Flora  under  your  charge,  Genie.  Last 
night  proved  to  me  the  minx  will  flirt  on  every  oppor- 
tunity." 

"  Manage  your  own  troubles  and  bear  your  own  mar- 
ital burdens !  "  laughs  his  sister.  "  Though  I  ran  give 
you  one  point.  You  had  better  discharge  Flora's 
European  lady's  maid.  Mademoiselle  Nanette  will  no- 
tice her  mistress's  continuous  absence  of  pocket  money 
and  may  go  to  prattling." 

"  Already  done !  "  answers  her  brother  promptly. 
"  Nanette  is  to  be  spliced  to  a  German  sailor  over  at  the 
Whampoa  Dock,  and  doesn't  wish  to  go  with  me  to  Pe- 
king." 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  163 

"With  you — to  Peking?"  giggles  Miss  Passmere. 
Then  a  peculiar  interest  comes  into  her  bell-like  voice 
as  she  ejaculates  artfully:  "  In  American  slang,  what 
kind  of  a  bluff  are  you  giving  me?  The  Honorable 
Arthur  Passmere  might  remain  unrecognized  in  Hong 
Kong  for  a  month  or  two  more,  and  people  might  im- 
agine he  was  doing  some  quiet  political  business  for 
Sir  Claude  Macdonald.  But  on  Legation  Street,  Pe- 
king," she  sneers,  "  my  fraudulent  diplomat,  you  would 
be  exposed  and  laughed  at  within  an  hour  of  your  ar- 
rival. I  supposed,"  continues  the  fay  archly,  "that  this 
sudden  Peking  trip  had  been  assumed  as  a  ruse  to 
hurry  your  nuptials  with  the  lady  of  those  bank  books." 

"  Yes,  that  was  my  idea  at  first,"  observes  Passmere. 
Then  he  comes  to  what  Miss  Imogene  is  anxious  to 
hear.  "  But  that  infernal  Mongolian  mandarin 
chanced  to  recognize  me  and  threatened  to  reveal  my 
former  station  to  Hong  Kong  society.  If  he  had  opened 
his  mouth,  I  wouldn't  have  had  these  bank  books  in  my 
name  now,  don't  yer  know.  So  I  had  to  agree  to  help 
him  in  a  matter,  upon  which  he  is  so  set  that  the  old 
scoundrel  has  promised  me  a  handsome  commission. 
Li  Wong  Chieun  is  very  anxious  that  Boardman  and 
his  daughter  go  to  Peking." 

"  Ah !  For  what  reason  ?  "  The  fairy's  voice  is  low ; 
her  eyes  glittering. 

"  Well  between  ourselves,  I  think  the  Chinese-com- 
missioner-high after  he  has  the  American's  receipt  to 
his  government  for  a  million  and  odd  taels  wants  to 
rob  him  of  them." 

"  Precisely — but  why  does  the  mandarin  wish  Miss 
Boardman  to  visit  North  China  ?  "  Imogene  is  so  eager, 
she  is  trembling. 

"Oh — awh!"  stammers  Passmere  confused  for  a 
moment  by  the  horrible  thing  he  is  about  to  suggest. 
"  As  for  the  American's  beautiful  daughter,  I  have 
seen  Chinese  eyes  before.  I  think  His  Excellency 
wants " 


1 64  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  What?  "  His  sister's  voice  is  hoarse  and  expectant. 

Villain  that  he  is,  Passmere  looks  ashamed.  "  Yer 
really  want  to  know  ?  " 

"  I  must!  To  aid  you — I  must !"  There  is  a  savage 
ring  to  the  girl's  excited  command. 

Her  brother  strolls  over  to  the  young  lady,  and  bend- 
ing down,  whispers  doggedly :  "  Ever  read  of  the  ab- 
duction of  the  Sabine  virgins,  eh?  Well  I  think  Li 
Wong  Chieun  wants  to  play  the  Roman  in  an  act  of 
that  kind,  don't  yer  know.  Though  he  has  half  a 
dozen  Chinese  wives,  Chieun  has  the  reputation  of 
having  a  very  high  appreciation  of  American  beauty, 
can't  yer  see." 

"  Yes — I — see,"  sighs  Imogene ;  recollection  making 
her  hungry  for  an  awful  vengeance  upon  the  Mongo- 
lian satrap.  She  has  never  dared  to  make  revelation  to 
her  brother,  who  loose,  careless,  wicked  as  he  is  would 
resent  his  sister's  wrongs — even  to  murder.  That 
doesn't  suit  her  now.  Dearly  as  she  wants  Chieun's 
death  she  wants  him  to  exist  until  in  his  brutality  he 
has  given  her  revenge  upon  another  she  hates  even 
more  than  that  almond-eyed  savage.  A  moment  after 
she  says  earnestly :  "  His  dollars  will  take  the  commer- 
cial Yankee  to  Peking  certainly  enough;  but  not  nec- 
essarily his  daughter." 

"  Yes,  but  if  I  go  with  my  bride,  Boardman  will 
think  it  perfectly  safe  to  take  Eira  with  him ;  even 
though  there  are  the  usual  sporadic  rumors  of  Boxers' 
outrages  that  come  from  missionary  panic." 

"  Ah !"    The  girl's  voice  sounds  like  a  bell. 

"Yes,  yer  see  Li  Wong  Chieun  is  so  anxious  in  this 
affair  that  he's  already  paid  me  two  thousand  taels  in 
advance,  and  I've  nailed  him  so  that  I'm  sure  of  the 
balance.  I've  only  to  induce  my  Uncle  Boardy  and 
his  daughter  to  visit  Peking.  Boardman  at  the 
American  Legation  should  be  as  safe  as  he  is  here, 
don't  yer  see.  No  harm  can  come  to  such  an  innocent 
affair,  don't  yer  know,"  mutters  Passmere  in  muffled 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  165 

half-apologetic  tones.  "  Supposing  Uncle  Joel  wan- 
dering about  the  suburbs  of  Peking  should  be  waylaid 
and  his  daughter  abducted  by  Blackflags,  Boxers  or  any 
other  anti-foreign  Celestials,  what  would  I  have  to  do 
about  it  except  to  set  up  a  shriek  of  awful  horror,  don't 
yer  understand." 

"  Yes ;  but  you  dare  not  go  to  Peking.  Remember 
that!" 

"  No,  Tien  Tsin  will  be  far  enough  for  the  Hon- 
orable Arthur  Passmere.  I  don't  wander  very  far 
from  a  warship's  guns.  I've  not  enough  trust  in  my 
pal  Chieun  for  that.  I've  arranged  that  his  secretary 
pays  me  my  commission — it's  a  thumper  too — the  mo- 
ment we  arrive  in  Tien  Tsin.  Chieun  '11  do  it  safe 
enough.  Li  Wong  knows  I've. only  to  give  one  hint  to 
the  American  and  his  game  is  blocked,"  jeers  the  subtle 
schemer  as  Imogene  shivers  at  the  mandarin's 
name.  "  The  eighty  miles  of  railway  Uncle 
Boardy  can  take  himself.  But  my  visiting  North 
China  will  announce  very  clearly  that  I  with  my  great 
Oriental  experience  fear  no  outbreak  in  the  Chih-li 
province,"  adds  the  gentleman  craftily. 

At  any  other  time  Miss  Passmere  would  have  coun- 
seled :  "  Don't  go !  Have  nothing  to  do  with  the  af- 
fair. Surely  Flora's  fortune  is  enough ;  at  least  for  the 
present."  But  now,  after  pacing  the  floor  nervously 
a  moment,  she  enters  very  fervidly  into  the  matter, 
suggesting :  "  Yes,  a  good  slice  of  those  million  taels 
would  round  up  our  Eastern  business  very  well." 
Growing  exceedingly  eager,  she  urges :  "  Get  along 
with  the  business,  Arthur."  Gazing  out  of  the  window 
upon  the  beautiful  woman  playing'with  her  child  in  the 
garden,  Imogene  continues  with  far-seeing  judgment: 
"  It's  lucky  you  have  your  bride  so  under  your  hand. 
Otherwise  at  some  supreme  moment  Flora  might  by 
a  wayward  action  or  careless  impulse  balk  the  whole 
matter.  Flora  must  go  with  you.  She  must  be  the 


1 66  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

lure !  Leave  his  niece  behind  you,  and  Mr.  Boardman 
will  leave  his  daughter  also." 

"  By  Jove — you're  dead  right" ;  assents  Passmere ; 
then  chuckles :  "  Flora  is  as  facile  to  me  as  a  child." 

"  So  long  as  she  thinks  you  a  high-minded  British 
diplomat,"  asserts  his  sister.  Then  the  little  psycholog- 
ical witch  laughs :  "  Use  her  brat  to  keep  Madame 
^Esthetic  in  the  seclusion  of  domesticity.  Give  her  but 
one  man  to  worship  and  she'll  worship  only  you!  Then 
unembarrassed  by  her  whims  and  emotions,  I  can  run 
affairs  with  her  uncle  and  her  cousin." 

As  if  she  thinks  the  matter  is  settled,  Imogene  goes 
to  discussing  its  details,  remarking:  "For  Flora's 
maid  upon  the  trip,  you  had  better  buy  a  Chinese  girl 
like  my  attendant."*  "  Until  that  time  Lie-lie  and  I  will 
take  care  of  Mrs.  Passmere."  With  this  Imogene 
gives  her  brother  some  very  sage  suggestions  as  to  his 
bride,  whispering  as  he  strolls  away  to  his  wife  these 
astute  words:  "Understand  me,  you  must  base  my 
charge  of  Flora  upon  the  plea  of  your  great  love  and 
care  for  her.  Placed  on  any  other  grounds  your  friv- 
olous yet  emotional  bride  would  resent  my  authority.'"' 

"  Oh,  I  understand,  Flora,  don't  yer  know,"  laughs 
the  husband  easily.  "  I'll  do  the  business  straight  as 
nails." 

Gazing  after  him,  Imogene  voices  this  startling  prop- 
osition :  "You  don't  guess  my  careless  brother  what  a 
grand  and  far-reaching  triumph  both  of  revenge  and 
finance  you  have  opened  to  me.  Joel  Luther  Board- 
man's  an  American  multi-millionaire.  Some  day  I 
may  offer  fortune  as  well  as  love  to  Jim  Ingraham" — 
and  the  little  witch's  eyes  bulge  with  joy. 

Evidences  of  Arthur's  tact  soon  come  to  Imogene. 

*"  Domestic  slavery  exists  to  a  very  large  extent.  There  is  scarcely 
a  family  of  good  means  in  Hong  Kong,  Canton,  or  Macao  but  what  possesses 
one  or  often  several  slave  girls. .  . .  Theoretically  of  course  there  are  no  slaves 
in  Hong  Kong,  but  practically  there  are  thovisands  of  them.  All  the  young 
maid  servants  that  follow  their  mistresses'  sedan  chairs  belong  to  this  class. ' 
"  Things  Chinese,"  by  J.  Dyer  Ball,  Civil  Service,  Hong  Kong.  —  ED. 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  167 

As  they  meet  for  tiffin,  Flora  floats  in  f rocked  in  pure 
white  muslin,  almost  undecked  by  trimming.  Apar- 
ently  made  younger  by  love,  the  magnificent  woman1 
looks  quite  like  a  saintly  girl  in  a  simple  dress  whose 
draping  skirt  cut  unfashionably  scant,  permits  an  al- 
most childish  effect  of  white  silk  stockings  and  plain 
slippers  with  elastics  tightly  crossed  in  misses'  fash- 
ion over  high  insteps. 

Noting  an  inquiry  in  Imogene's  glance  she  says 
quietly :  "  My  husband  thinks  I  can  attend  to  Harold 
better  in  a  plain  and  girlish  house  frock.  I'm  to  have 
charge  of  my  child  every  morning  now  Lizette  has 
been  sent  away." 

And  Arthur  joining  them,  the  bride's  eyes  follow  her 
husband  beaming  in  a  happy  ecstasy  which  indicates 
that  full  surrender  has  increased  rather  than  dimin- 
ished Flora  Passmere's  passion.  Even  as  she  talks  to 
Miss  Passmere,  the  emotional  lady  once  or  twice  con- 
trives to  surreptitiously  fondle  her  new  lord's  hand. 

So  the  three  sit  down  to  a  pleasant  meal,  where  they 
discuss  Mr.  Boardman's  fete  of  the  evening  before 
At  its  close  Arthur  delights  his  wife  by  saying:  "Genie, 
I  want  you  to  run  over  with  Flora  to  Hong  Kong  and 
select  for  her  some  pretty  light  summer  toilettes  for 
Pekin  Legation  mornings.  It's  going  to  be  warm  up 
in  that  inland  capital.  For  my  own  pride  as  well  as 
love  I  desire  my  bride's  adornment  to  be  worthy  of  her 
beauty." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  my  husband !  "  cries  Flora  raptur- 
ously;  and  adds:  "  I'm  so  glad  Imogene  will  help  me 
in  the  matter.  I  didn't  know  what  I  should  do,  now  that 
my  maid  has  left  me.  You  see  Arthur  has  petted  me 
till  I  am  such  a  baby,"  she  laughs,  "I've  got  to  be 
taken  care  of  even  to  selecting  costumes." 

"  Oh,  from  now  on  I  am  to  do  that  for  you,"  re- 
marks Imogene,  and  so  places  the  first  touch  of  her 
authority  upon  this  aesthetic  lady  whom  she  now 
deems  it  essential  to  control.  "But  we  had  better  be. 


1 68  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

moving  on  Victoria  modistes,"  and  Arthur  having 
strolled  out  on  the  veranda  for  a  quiet  smoke,  she  rings 
the  bell.  Lie-lie  coming  in  to  her,  she  suggests :  "Mrs. 
Passmere  wishes  to  be  ready  for  Hong  Kong  shopping 
in  half  an  hour." 

As  Flora  rises  to  follow  the  maid,  she  turns  nerv- 
ously and  whispers  in  an  embarrassed  voice :  "  You 
know,  m/  sister,  that  Arthur  is  so  angrily  jealous  of 
me  at  what  happened  last  night  at  the  dinner  party 
that  he — he  won't  give  me  an  allowance — so  you're 
to — to  carry  the  purse  to-day." 

"  Mercy,    what    c.    confession ! "    Imogene    laughs. 

"  Your  husband  must  have  guessed  what  a  flirt  you 
were  in  the  old  days,  to  think  you  need  a  governante." 

"  Y-e-s,  a — a  little  ;  "  stammers  the  bride. 

"  Has  he  ever  heard  any  stories  of  the  Reverend 
Vestry  Stole  ?  "  Miss  Passmere's  tone  is  significantly 
suggestive. 

"  Oh,  good  heavens,  no !  "  gasps  Flora,  her  face 
growing  extremely  pallid.  "  And  please,  please  don't 
tell  him.  Arthur  was  so  angry  about  young  Bur- 
roughs again  last  night!"  pleads  the  bride  in  disin- 
genuous timidity. 

"Ah,  then  I  shall  be  your  duenna  to-day  if  that  ar- 
tillery lieutenant  puts  in  an  appearance,"  smiles  Imo- 
gene. "  So  I  warn  you  my  dear — not  a  suspicion  of  a 
flirtation !"  And  the  fairy  artfully  kissing  the  mag- 
nificent woman  who  looks  disconcertedly  at  her  slip- 
pers, suggests  suavely :  "  Please  don't  keep  me  wait- 
ing! Hurry  to  Lie-lie  to  be  f rocked  for  your  shop- 
ping?" 

Though  her  costume  is  a  very  pretty  one,  all 
through  her  visit  to  Hong  Kong  modistes  and  millin- 
ers Mrs.  Passmere  can't  help  feeling  like  a  great  girl 
taking  an  outing  with  her  governess.  This  is  increased 
by  the  abject  helplessness  produced  by  that  most 
crushing  of  all  humilities — an  absolutely  empty  pocket- 
book,  likewise  Imogene's  manner,  who  though  gener- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  169 

ally  acceding  to  Flora's  taste  and  selection  of  goods 
and  styles,  once  says :  "  I'm  sure  Arthur  would  not  per- 
mit you  to  wear  that  rather  loud  gown,  dear!  You 
know  his  taste  is  almost  Puritanical  about  you !  " 

"  Anyway  my  husband's  jealous  care  is  a  proof  of 
his  love  for  me,"  whispers  Flora  proudly,  though  she 
can't  help  pouting  as  she  puts  away  the  robe. 

So  Flora  is  astutely  and  gradually  brought  more  and 
more  under  a  dominion,  that  on  one  occasion  Imogene 
discovers  to  be  almost  vital  to  the  success  of  her  pro- 
ject. 

During  the  next  week,  in  furtherance  of  the  scheme 
in  her  devilish  little  head,  spending  much  time  at  the 
Peak  Hotel,  Imogene  contrives  to  become  very  inti- 
mate with  the  Boardmans,  father  and  daughter;  so 
much  so,  that  it  is  arranged  that  they  all  make  a  fam- 
ily party  for  their  visit  to  Northern  China.  For  Joel 
finds  Miss  Passmere  a  pleasantly  entertaining  young 
lady,  and  Eira  is  anxious  for  any  companionship  that 
>will  make  the  time  seem  shorter  during  the  absence  of 
her  affianced  in  the  Philippines. 

One  afternoon,  though  Imogene  has  contrived  that 
Mrs.  Passmere  does  not  visit  her  relatives  too  often, 
all  three  ladies  chance  to  sit,  making  a  pretty  picture  in 
Boardman's  parlor. 

The  bowing  Lum  Kee,  his  yellow  face  wreathed  in 
smiles,  is  passing  tea  and  biscuits  about.  Flora  robed 
in  a  very  pretty,  light  street  costume  is  laughing  and 
chatting  with  her  cousin.  Miss  Passmere  in  a  kind  of 
day  dream  is  trying  to  remember  where  she  has  seen 
the  Chinese  servant's  smile  before. 

Suddenly  some  trick  of  gesture  as  he  passes  makes 
her  quiver  and  grow  cold  as  ice  from  head  to  heel.  She 
remembers  now!  This  Celestial,  blue-robed,  white- 
shoed,  silent  moving  creature  was  one  of  Li  Wong 
Chieun's  harem  servants  on  the  awful  day  in  the  man- 
darin's Twuy-Chow  yamen. 

She    turns    away    her    head     and     appears    to 


1 70  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

look  over  a  book  of  photographs  to  hide  the  crimson 
fire  that  chases  the  pallor  from  her  face.  But  as  the 
cartes  de  visile  swim  before  her  gaze  her  eyes  have  in 
them  a  horrible  longing  hope.  Lum-Kee,  the  trusted 
servant  of  Chieun  is  Boardman's  confidential  attend- 
ant. Surely  the  satrap's  web  is  being  woven  about  her 
rival. 

And  now  Imogene's  hatred  is  increased  by  Miss 
Boardman's  happy  face.  For  Eira,  exquisitely  dressed, 
is  radiant  with  her  Jim's  first  cable  from  the  Philip- 
pines, which  she  is  carrying  in  her  hand.  A  moment 
later  she  bursts  out  laughing,  for  Mrs.  Passmere  has 
said  in  reference  to  some  project :  "I  don't  think  my 
husband  will  permit  me." 

"  Gracious,  what  a  change !  "  cries  Miss  Young 
America  in  merry  arrogance.  "  It  used  to  be  '  I  don't 
think  I  will  permit  my  adorers  to  do  thus  and  so.' ' 

"  Ah,  but  at  that  time  I  had  not  known  Arthur's 
love,"  says  Flora,  her  face  lighting  up  with  reverent 
passion  for  her  scoundrel  husband. 

"  Apropos,  was  not  that  letter  I  saw  the  clerk  in  the 
office  give  you  to-day  from  a  late  mail  addressed  to 
Mrs.  Elton,  from  one  of  your  ex-European  admirers  ?  " 
jeers  Eira  playfully. 

At  this,  Flora  flushes  slightly,  and  cries :  "  Oh 
what  nonsense !  "  But  Imogene  waking  up,  notices 
Mrs.  Passmere's  hand  goes  in  a  timid  way  towards  her 
pocket,  and  a  little  foot  perfectly  booted  that  projects 
from  beneath  her  mouseline  de  soie  jupe  begins  to  tap 
the  floor  nervously. 

Just  here,  Boardman  coming  in  with  rather  a  per- 
turbed manner  makes  a  diversion.  To  Eira's  inquiry  as 
to  what  io  the  matter,  he  growls :  "  Hang  it,  I  don't 
like  the  news  in  the  Hong  Kong  Daily  Press  this  morn- 
ing, from  North  China." 

For  it  is  now  early  in  May,  and  the  cloud  above  the 
Purple  City  has  grown  both  larger  and  blacker  to  even 
the  general  eye. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  171 

"  Li  Wong  Chieun  is  already  en  route  to  Shanghai," 
he  goes  on,  uneasily.  "I  can't  communicate  with  him, 
and  I've  got  to  go  to  Peking  for  my  ducats.  But  I 
think  somehow  or  other,  Eira,  I  must  contrive  to  leave 
you  here.  I'll  speak  to  Passmere,  Flora.  Supposing  all 
you  ladies  remain  in  Hong  Kong  together." 

For  a  moment  Imogene  pales  with  disappointment ; 
then  is  delighted.  With  woman's  devotion,  Flora 
promptly  says :  "  My  husband  has  to  go  to  Peking, 
and  I  go  with  him.  Do  you  think  Arthur  would  take 
me  to  a  place  where  there  is  any  danger  ?  No  legation 
lady  has  left  Peking.  Don't  you  suppose  their  hus- 
bands would  send  them  away  on  the  first  real  sugges- 
tion of  an  outbreak?" 

"  Humph,  that's  so !"  remarks  Boardman.  "I  guess 
it's  all  the  tarnation  rubbish  of  some  frightened  mis- 
sionaries." 

"  I  hope  it  is — Hong  Kong  is  very  dreary  now," 
sighs  Eira. 

"  I'm  sure  it  is !  "  interjects  Imogene.  "  I  lived  in 
China  three  quiet  years,  and  heard  the  same  outcry 
every  day." 

"  Well,  that  being  the  case,  the  sooner  we  go  the 
sooner  we'll  get  through  with  the  matter,"  says  Joel. 
"  Eira,  pack  your  trunks !  "  Then  he  asks,  very  ten- 
derly and  earnestly :  "  You  want  to  go,  my  child,  don't 
you  ? " 

"  Oh,  very  much,"  says  the  young  lady.  "  Hong 
Kong  is  a  desert  now.  Anything  to  pass  the  time  till 
you  take  me  to  Manila.  You  know  you've  promised 
that,  papa.  By-the-by,  I  have  a  letter  written  to  send 
to  Tokio." 

"  To  Katsuma?  Two  strings  to  the  bow  yet?  "  jeers 
her  father. 

"  I  have  never  had  but  one,"  laughs  his  daughter, 
"  and  this  is  proof  of  it :  Jim  wishes  Captain  Osuri  to 
take  such  awful  good  care  of  me  that  I  promised  my 
betrothed  to  let  his  chum  know  if  I  visited  Peking.  Do 


I72  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

you  mind  posting  it  for  me,  my  cousin  ?  "  She  holds 
out  the  epistle  to  Flora.  "If  you  put  it  in  the  central 
office  when  you  go  down-town,  it  will  catch  this  after- 
noon's boat.  As  it  is  important,  please  post  it  with 
your  own  hand." 

"  With  pleasure,"  remarks  Flora,  and  takes  the  let- 
ter, which  Miss  Passmere  has  gazed  upon  unpleasantly. 
Into  her  mind  has  flown :  "  The  Japanese  may  still  be 
a  factor  in  the  matter.  This  may  add  another  compli- 
cation to  my  plan."  Then  for  a  moment  noting  the 
airy  beauty  and  exquisite  loveliness  of  the  young 
American  girl,  the  little  wretch  half  repents.  Perhaps 
she  would  wholly,  had  sh«  not  heard  of  the  visit  to 
Manila  and  did  not  she  see  the  telegram  from  Jim  In- 
graham  in  her  rival's  hands  and  the  rapture  with  which 
Eira  Boardman  looks  upon  it. 

A  few  moments  after  the  Kau-lung  ladies  have  taken 
their  leave.  As  they  ride  down  the  hill  in  the  tram-car, 
Imogene  says  to  Flora :  "  Supposing  we  take  a  little 
walk  in  the  gardens.  I  have  something  to  say  to  you." 

These    "somethings   to  say   to    you "    have     not 
always  been  pleasant  to  Mrs.  Passmere ;  she  suggests : 
"  Supposing  you  say  it  at  Kau-lung.    If  we  don't  hurry 
down-town  I  shall  hardly  get  Eira's  letter  into  the 
post." 

But  Eira's  letter  is  really  Miss  Passmere's  objective 
point.  She  says,  earnestly :  "  It  won't  take  more  than 
a  few  moments,  and  I  don't  wish  to  be  near  my  brother 
when  I  speak  to  you,"  adding,  pharisaically :  "  I 
sometimes  feel,  as  I  look  on  your  errors,  Flora,  that 
I  am  not  doing  my  duty  thoroughly  by  Arthur." 

"  In  what  way  ?  " 

"  Don't  fear  that  I  shall  not  tell  you !  "  Her  duenna's 
tone  is  so  alarming  that  Passmere's  frightened  bride 
silently  obeys  her  instructions.- 

The  ladies  stop  at  the  Kennedy  Road  and  step  into 
the  Gardens.  Here,  getting  a  chance  of  private  con- 
verse in  one  of  its  leafy  paths,  Miss  Passmere  says,  in 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  173 

hurried  sternness :  "  Flora,  give  me  that  letter  you 
got  from  Europe." 

"  What  letter  ?  "    Mrs.  Passmere's  face  is  agitated. 

"  You  know ;  the  one  that  you  received  at  the  Peak 
Hotel." 

"  I  shan't !  You  have  no  right  to  read  it,"  dissents 
her  subject  in  a  half-hearted  way. 

"  But  my  poor  brother  has.    I  act  for  him !  " 

Imogene's  agile  hand  is  already  in  Flora's  pocket, 
Mrs.  Passmere  making  but  a  faint  resistance. 

"  Oho,  I've  got  two !"  she  jeers.  No,  this  is  the  one 
to  Katsuma;  "I'll  post  that!  This  other  one,  Flora, 
for  my  brother's  peace  of  mind,  for  your  duty  to  him 

as  wife,  I "  She  hastily  glances  over  and  shudder- 

ingly  places  in  her  pocket  the  European  epistle,  ad- 
dressed to  Mrs.  Elton,  then  says :  "  Now,  come  along, 
quick !  I'll  post  Osuri's  letter !  " 

With  this  Imogene  strides  out  of  the  Gardens  clutch- 
ing the  epistle  that  would  warn  the  Japanese  of  Eira's 
visit  to  the  Chinese  capital,  but  keeping  Flora's  mind 
from  it  by  saying,  in  horrified  tones  :  "I  think  I  should 
tell  Arthur  of  your  love-letter — from  that  awful 
Baron !  Really,  I  think  I  should.  But  still,  if  you're 
very  penitent,  perhaps  I  won't.  I  don't  want  to  break 
my  poor  brother's  heart." 

A  moment  later  they  are  on  another  car.  When 
they  reach  the  Central  Post-Office,  upon  the  Queen's 
Road,  Miss  Passmere  suggests :  "  Wait  a  moment, 
while  I  drop  Eira's  letter  in  the  box !  "  and  runs  into 
the  general  post-office  under  that  curious  arch  in- 
scribed, "  As  cold  water  is  to  the  thirsty  soul,  so  is 
good  news  from  a  far  country." 

Standing  outside,  Flora,  in  her  fright  about  the  very 
ardent  letter  from  the  German  baron  thinks  very  little 
of  the  epistle  to  the  Japanese. 

Her  panic  is  deftly  increased  by  her  self-appointed 
governante,  who  shortly  comes  out,  having  the  letter 


174  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

for  Katsuma  stowed  carefully  away  in  her  pocket. 
Thinking  it  wise  to  erase  it  from  her  emotional  charge's 
mind,  Miss  Passmere  adroitly  harps  on  the  European 
one. 

After  they  have  crossed  upon  the  Tsim-tsa-Tsui 
ferryboat  and  entered  the  garden  of  their  villa  Imo- 
gene  suddenly  whispers :  "  I  can't  exactly  understand 
the  drift  of  that  German's  letter" ;  then  gasps :  "  Great 
Heavens,  did  the  baron  really  kiss  you,  that  evening  at 
Marienbad,  Flora  ?  "  next  breaks  out  in  Puritanical 
horror :  "  You  needn't  speak ;  your  face  answers  me. 
Oh,  Arthur,  poor  deceived  Arthur !  " 

"  How  could  I  deceive  him  until  I  knew  him,"  flut- 
ters Mrs.  Passmere,  desperately. 

"  Oh,  since  you  are  impenitent,  I  must  tell  my 
brother ! " 

"  For  God's  sake,  don't — don't  kill  his  love  for  me ! 
You're  always  bringing  up  my  ante-nuptial  errors," 
sobs  her  victim.  "  You  will  increase  Arthur's  awful 
jealousy!"  and  perturbation  and  misery  completely 
wipe  from  Flora's  agitated  mind  Miss  Boardman's  let- 
ter to  the  man  who  had  sworn  to  guard  her. 

Having  produced  her  effect,  Imogene  turns  in  crafty 
triumph  from  the  affair  to  be  dismayed  by  her  brother 
coming  home  with  a  frightened  face.  Taking  her  aside, 
he  whispers :  "  I  won't  go  to  North  China." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  she  asks,  her  face  quivering  with  dis- 
appointment. 

"  Because  I  chanced  to  meet  old  Watson  over  at  the 
Whampoa  Dock — you  remember  him — the  tattooed 
fellow,  who  was  my  right  bower  in  that  Twuy  Chow 
opium  affair,  the  one  for  which  Li  Wong  Chieun 
grabbed  me,  and,  for  that  matter,  you,  my  little,  shiver- 
ing sister,"  mutters  Arthur,  noting  Aliss  Passmere 
shudder.  "  You  know  old  Watson — they  call  him 
'  Old  Treaty  Port,'  the  beggar  has  been  in  the  East 
so  long.  From  what  he  told  me,  I'm  fly  enough  to  be 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  175 

dead  sure  there  will  be  such  an  outbreak  that  the  world 
has  scarcely  seen  the  like,  over  all  Northern  China. 
No  little  missionary  massacre ;  a  regular  Mongolian 
typhoon  of  fanatic  rage,  barbarous  outrage,  torture, 
murder,  fire,  for  all  Foreign  Devils.  Between  our- 
selves, I  think  they  intend  to  butcher  in  Peking  the 
legations  of  the  civilized  world."  Arthur's  voice  is 
low,  impressed  and  awe-stricken. 

"  Pish,  you're  trying  to  frighten  me,  you  fool !  "  cries 
his  sister,  angrily.  "  Besides,  we  go  no  further  than 
Tien-Tsin.  That's  under  the  guns  of  the  foreign  war- 
ships. There  you  are  safe  as  here.  In  addition,  think 
what  you'll  gain."  Her  tone  grows  very  guarded ;  she 
is  whispering  now. 

"  Oh,  a  beggarly  few  thousand  taels  from  Li  Wong 
Chieun,  of  which  he'll  cheat  me,  if  he  can ;  and  for 
which,  if  he  gets  the  chance,  he'll  butcher  me." 

The  time  has  come  for  Miss  Passmere  to  play  her 
grand  card.  The  scheme  that  has  slowly  grown  in  her 
crafty  brain  is  not  ready  in  all  its  avariciously  daring 
details. 

"  Idiot !  "  she  says,  impressively,  coolly,  sneering- 
ly,  "  the  very  magnitude  of  this  outbreak  insures  two 
deaths  that  will  make  you  a  prince." 

"What  the  deuce  are  yer  driving  at?" 

"  Your  Uncle  Boardy  is  an  American  multi-million- 
aire— a  man  with  an  income  greater  than  some  of  the 
crowned  heads  of  Europe.  Your  wife  is  his  only  niece. 
He  has  no  near  relations  but  Flora.  Think  what  that 
means  if  he  dies,  and,  if  in  addition  his  daughter,  in 
despair  and  misery,  passes  from  the  earth." 

"  By  Jove,  you  are  a  corker !  " 

"  Think — think — THINK  !  No  heir  but  your  wife, 
who  is  as  melted  wax  within  your  hands.  Be  un- 
daunted for  a  month  or  two  and  the  little  beggar  boy 
of  Tung-Chow  Mission  becomes  richer  and  more  pow- 
erful than  many  princes  of  this  earth !  " 

"  Great  Scott,   I  never  thought  of  that !    What  an 


176  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

astute  devil  you  are,  Genie !  "  mutters  Arthur,  his  eyes 
growing  big  at  thought  of  Joel's  many  millions. 

Fired  by  her  words,  he  continues,  stoutly:  "All 
right,  as  far  as  Tien-Tsin !"  then  adds :  "Egad, 
you're  a  brave  one  to  go,  Genie,"  and  strides  off  hast- 
ily but  resolutely  to  reserve  staterooms  on  the  Jardine, 
Matheson  &  Co.'s  steamer. 

"  A  brave  one,"  murmurs  Miss  Passmere,  gazing 
after  him.  "  A  desperate  one !  If  Li  Wong  Chieun 
murders  the  American,  the  big  arms  manufacturer  is 
important  enough  for  the  Yankee  government  to  de- 
mand and  get  the  accursed  head  of  the  brutal  Chinese 
mandarin  whose  monkey-love  made  me  ashamed  to 
look  my  kind  in  the  face."  Her  glazed  eyes  grow  full 
of  a  kind  of  crazy  horror,  but  that  doesn't  make  her 
merciful.  Two  hectic  spots  of  passion  flame  on  either 
delicate  cheek.  She  jeers:  "The  same  degradation 
for  the  proud  beauty  who  came  betwixt  me  and  his 
love.  Should  Chieun's  Chinese  lust  sully  the  American 
lily,  the  girl,  in  high-minded  sentiment  will  either  kill 
herself  or  make  confession  that  she  is  not  fit  mate  to 
honest  man.  When  spots  have  sullied  Jim  Ingraham's 
sun,  perchance  he  may  turn  to  me,  the  silent  victim. 
His  looks  were  ardent  upon  the  steamer's  deck.  Can 

I "  her  eyes  are  tendd,  with  a  longing  yet  radiant 

with  a  hope — "  Can  I  from  my  rival's  degradation  gain 
his  love?  Oh,  merciful  Heaven,  am  I  killing  three 
birds  with  one  astute,  diabolic,  yet  tremendous  stone !  " 

And  the  crafty  little  fairy  runs  gleefully  to  the  win- 
dow; for  Master  Harold  is  shouting  to  her:  "Venes 
id!  Meine  Mutter  is  too  lazy  to  play,  aujourd'  hui!" 

She  looks  upon  Mrs.  Passmere,  who  is  seated 
languidly  by  her  child,  and  smiles.  She  feels  Eira's 
letter,  to  the  Japanese,  safely  in  her  pocket,  mixed 
with  some  of  the  plundered  lady's  bank  notes,  and 
thinks :  "  Flora  is  an  aid  to  my  plan,  not  a  detriment. 
She's  weak  as  wax!" 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  177 

But  airy  Miss  Passmere  forgets  that  Flora  is  mother- 
hood— that  danger  to  the  curly-headed  boy  she  is  ca- 
ressing will  arouse  a  mother's  love — that  dares  all 
things;  that  endures  all  things;  that  makes  maternity, 
in  its  unselfish  devotion,  divine  in  power ! 


BOOK  III. 


BLUE  BEARD'S  CASTLE. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE     WHITE     PAGODA. 

A  few  days  after  this,  Mr.  Passrnere,  his  bride  and 
sister  accompanying  Mr.  and  Miss  Boardman  take  one 
of  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.'s  steamers  for  Shanghai 
and  Tien  Tsin. 

The  journey  to  North  China  though  warm  is  pleas- 
ant, Flora  probably  enjoying  the  honeymoon  voyage 
more  than  any  excursion  in  her  life,  her  handsome 
husband  being  very  attentive  to  his  lovely  bride,  and 
Imogene's  government  not  greatly  en  evidence. 

When  not  with  her  spouse  Mrs.  Passrnere  is  happy 
with  her  boy,  whose  sharp  eyes  and  sprightly  polyglot 
tongue  apparently  keep  gentlemen  admirers  at  a  safe 
distance  from  his  beautiful  mama. 

Sea  air  seems  to  make  Boardman  and  Arthur  quite 
chummy,  the  American  beginning  to  have  a  better 
opinion  of  his  niece's  husband  than  he  had  before  ac- 
corded him;  consequently  the  gentlemen  drink  to- 
gether quite  often,  and  frequent  the  smoking-room  a 
good  deal.  To  this  Joel  is  perhaps  driven  by  the  far- 
away look  that  is  gradually  coming  into  his  daughter's 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  I'jg 

sapphire  eyes,  as  she  reads  and  re-reads  the  first  let- 
ter from  her  betrothed  in  the  Philippines. 

Over  this  look  Miss  Passmere  gloats.  It  is  the  one 
happiness  of  her  life.  It  kills  her  conscience  if  she 
ever  had  any,  and  makes  her  long  for  North  China 
and  catastrophe  to  this  exquisite  being  who  has  what 
she  hungers  for — Jim  Ingraham's  love. 

As  they  approach  Shanghai,  however,  Eira's  face 
grows  brighter  with  the  anticipation  of  new  scenes, 
and  the  brilliant  life  of  the  Peking  legations.  The 
beautiful  girl  has  a  merry  if  not  a  happy  spirit,  and 
several  times  laughs  at  her  cousin  as  that  once 
haughty  and  aesthetic  lady  makes  some  remark  which 
indicates  that  her  husband  is  now  her  lord  supreme. 
Once  Miss  Young  America  glances  rather  curiously 
at  little  Harold  as  the  urchin  prattles :  "  Meine  neue 
Tante  likes  me  to  tell  her  what  der  chaps  whisper  to 
ma  chcre  woman  quand  nous  faisons  noire  promenade 
tons  les  matins." 

But  Flora,  ashamed  to  confess  that  the  sprightly 
Miss  Passmere  has  assumed  arbitrary  rule  over  her, 
turns  this  off  by  laughing:  "  Of  course  Imogene  wants 
to  hear  if  Captain  Roberts,  of  the  Newchang  Coal  Co. 
and  little  Ariste  Belguard,  of  the  French  Consul's  of- 
fice at  Shanghai,  use  the  same  compliments  to  other 
ladies  that  they  whisper  in  her  ear." 

Notwithstanding  this,  Miss  Autocrat  notes  that  the 
once  dashing  Flora  is  extraordinarily  demure  each 
morning  in  her  demeanor  to  gentlemen,  and  keeps  her 
bright  brown  eyes  very  straight  in  front  of  her  as  she 
leads  her  little  Harold  up  and  down  the  white  deck. 
Communing  with  herself  Imogene  thinks  determin- 
edly :  "  When  the  time  comes,  if  necessary,  I  shall 
have  the  whip  hand  of  Flora."  Then  lounging  in  her 
steamer-chair  the  fairy  turns  evil  eyes  upon  the  beau- 
tiful American,  as  Miss  Boardman  takes  her  morning 
constitutional,  attended  on  one  side  by  old  Colonel 
Jaggers,  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteers,  and  on  the  other 


FLACJS. 

by  little  Cummings,  who  is  just  out  from  England  to 
take  a  post  in  the  Peking  branch  of  the  H.  and  S.  Bank. 

So  they  approach  Shanghai;  where  the  Honorable 
Arthur,  fearing  to  meet  people  who  may  remember 
him,  hides  in  his  stateroom  during  the  time  the 
steamer  is  off  that  port,  an  attention  which  gives  his 
unsuspecting  bride  another  rapture. 

The  next  evening  the  two  gentlemen  are  smoking 
their  after-dinner  cigars  as  the  Middle  Kingdom  leaves 
behind  the  lightships  below  Woo-sung,  the  Honora- 
Arthur  having  emerged  from  the  seclusion  of  his  cabin. 

"  I'm  mighty  glad,  Passmere,"  remarks  the  Yankee, 
"  that  you  are  so  crack,  cock  sure  these  Boxer  fellers 
won't  make  an  outbreak  near  Peking  this  season.  Most 
commercial  people  in  that  town  behind  us  don't  think 
much  about  it,  but  I  ran  across  a  missionary  there, 
who  hailed  from  Pao-ting-fu,  who  thinks  differently." 

"  Yes,  I  can  quite  guess  what  he  said,"  remarks  the 
Eastern  adventurer  laughing,  "  the  usual  missionary 
babble  about  being  burned  alive  and  slaughtered  by  a 
thousand  slices.  It  always  comes  at  this  time  of  the 
year,  to  increase  the  contributions  in  American  and 
European  churches  to  the  martyrs'  fund,  don't  yer 
know.  But  at  the  club  did  they  say  anything  about 
Sir  Claude  sending  Lady  Macdonald  away  from  the 
Peking  legation,  or  Conger  dispatching  his  family  to 
the  sea,  or  that  German,  Von  Ketteler  ordering  his 
pretty,  young  American  wife  to  leave  him  and  go 
down  to  the  warships  at  Tien  Tsin  for  fear  of  the 
/  Ho  Chuan,  Righteous-Harmony-Fists,  that  patriotic 
society  for  the  protection  of  .China  against  Foreign 
Devils,  which  the  Eastern  world  has  christened  Box- 
ers. By  Jove !  even  the  missionaries  are  holding  their 
posts,  don't  yer  understand.  My  dear  Uncle  Boardy, 
we  will  probably  have  the  quietest  summer  that  has 
ever  taken  place  in  Northern  China  since  the  mission- 
aries got  there  to  disturb  it." 

As  the  scoundrel  puffs  this  placidly  between  his  thin 


.TANGLED  FLAGS.  l8l 

lips,  a  peculiar  grin  is  shrouded  by  the  floating  vapor. 
Mr.  Passmere  is  thinking  of  some  information  that 
has  lately  reached  him  from  Li  Wong  Chieun. 

A  few  minutes  after,  in  the  seclusion  of  his  state- 
room he  calls  his  bride  to  him,  puts  his  arms  about  her, 
and  giving  her  a  honeymoon  kiss  wonders  if  this  lady, 
whose  personal  beauty  is  surrendered  so  docilely  to 
him,  whose  very  mentality  seems  so  absolutely  his, 
whose  ample  fortune  he  has  already  confiscated,  is 
ultimately  going  to  bring  to  him  the  multi-millions  of 
her  uncle,  the  great  American  arms  manufacturer  and 
make  him  a  prince  upon  this  earth. 

As  he  thinks  of  the  means  by  which  this  wealth  may 
come  to  'him,  despite  himself  the  scoundrel  shudders ; 
Eira  Boardman  is  laughing  and  knocking  at  the  state- 
room door. 

"Flora!"  cries  that  young  lady:  "what  is  your 
talisman  ?  You  have  the  'spooniest'  husband  in  all  the 
East.  If  you  cannot  leave  him,  get  him  to  come  with 
you.  We  are  bound  for  an  impromptu  entertainment 
in  the  cabin.  Young  Spriggins  is  about  to  sing  his 
coon  song  which  made  him  celebrated  at  Singapore; 
and  Thompson's  three  clerks  from  Iloilo — I  forget 
their  names — are  going  to  do  their  Filipino  band  act, 
with  Spanish  ditties  and  Manila  street  cries." 

As  she  mentions  the  land  where  her  far-away  lover 
is  fighting  bolo-men,  tears  dim  the  betrothed's  bright 
eyes.  Noting  this,  Miss  Imogene,  who  has  just  strolled 
up,  gives  her  sufferi  .g  yet  successful  rival  a  fairy  but 
a  Judas  kiss,  as  the  party  adjourn  to  the  main  salon. 

Three  days  after,  the  Middle  Kingdom  anchors  off 
the  Taku  bar.  Here  Passmere  claps  Boardman  on  the 
shoulder,  and  jeers :  "  Does  this  look  like  trouble  ? 
Only  a  couple  of  Japanese  gunboats  and  a  little  Eng- 
lish torpedo-catcher  in  sight.  If  there  were  going  to 
be  a  row,  the  fleets  of  Christendom  would  be  about 
us." 

But  this  was  only  the  fifteenth  of  May,  and  every- 


1 82  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

thing  was  very  quiet  off  the  Taku  bar  until  nearly  the 
end  of  the  month. 

Passing  the  forts,  which  look  like  great,  truncated 
pyramids,  the  party  land  at  Tungku  a  couple  of  miles 
up  the  Pei-Ho.  Here  taking  train  for  Tien  Tsin  they 
find  themselves  in  the  European  concessions  of  that 
treaty  port  late  in  the  afternoon.  Further  up  the  river 
an  almost  continuous  string  of  coolie  villages  connect 
these  with  the  native  town  whose  stout  mud  walls  and 
high  pagoda  fort  loom  up  over  the  surrounding  level 
towards  the  northeast. 

Almost  upon  his  arrival  Boardman  is  greeted  by  the 
near-sighted  secretary  of  Li  Wong  Chieun,  who  with 
many  bows  states  that  His  Excellency,  having  been 
compelled  to  proceed  to  Peking,  has  ordered  him  to  re- 
main and  welcome  his  American  friend ;  that  in  case 
the  great  Mr.  Boardman  does  not  wish  to  immediately 
proceed  by  railway,  he  is  to  offer  him  the  hospitality  of 
one  of  his  master's  country  palaces,  situated  a  little 
north  of  Peit  Sang,  but  a  few  miles  away,  where  every 
preparation  has  been  made  to  do  the  American  honor, 
and  wrhere  Miss  Boardman  will  be  cooler  in  its 
orchards  and  gardens,  seated  by  its  playing  fountains, 
than  in  the  hot  bund  of  the  British  concession. 

"  Yes,  I  have  got  to  stay  here  a  few  days,"  remarks 
Boardman,  "my  trunks  have  been  stowed  in  the 
steamer's  hold,  and  they  will  not  be  up  by 
railway  from  Tungku  for  some  little  time." 
With  this  he  steps  into  the  Astor  House,  and  striding 
up  to  his  apartment,  consults  with  Mr.  Passmere, 
who  fearing  recognition  iwm  familiar  eyes  who  have 
known  him  in  his  North  China  career,  has  again  be- 
come retiring. 

"  You  had  better  go  on  at  once  to  Peking,"  sug- 
gests the  Honorable  Arthur. 

"  Not  until  I  get  my  sample  rapid-fires.  I  may  in- 
duce some  of  the  ministers  in  the  Purple  City  to  buy 
them  up  there  if  they  get  frightened  enough.  Besides 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  183 

I  want  Von  Ketteler's  approval.  Our  firm  are  work- 
ing to  get  an  order  from  the  German  government ;  Col- 
burn's  over  in  Berlin  now.  However,  I  will  have  them 
up  from  Tungku  on  the  train  in  a  few  days.  Now 
don't  you  think  we  had  better  accept  Chieun's  hospi- 
tality? It  may  be  cooler  in  the  country  than  it  is 
here." 

"  His  Excellency  is  not  at  his  country-place  ? " 
queries  Passmere,  anxiously. 

"  No.    Chieun's  now  at  Peking." 

A  moment  later  the  scoundrel  gives  a  little  start, 
grows  sick  at  the  stomach  and  turns  quite  pale.  After 
a  little  he  asks  with  a  slight  quiver  in  his  voice :  "  The 
money  the  Chinese  government  owes  you  is  not  to  be 
paid  at  Li  Wong  Chieun's  country  place,  Mr.  Board- 
man?" 

"  Certainly  not !  I  wish  it  were,  but  I  have  got  to 
receipt  for  and  get  the  money  from  the  Chinese  central 
treasury  at  the  capital." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  understand,"  replies  Arthur  relieved. 

The  moment  the  million  taels  are  paid  the  Ameri- 
can he  believes  the  tragedy  will  be  imminent — and  even 
he  has  not  the  heart  to  be  witness  of  the  portion  of  it 
that  will  pertain  to  Eira  Boardrnan. 

"Just  let  me  think  the  matter  over  half  a  second," 
continues  Passmere ;  and  ponders  deeply. 

He  knows  that  the  money  from  Chieun  won't  be  paid 
him  till  Boardrnan  and  his  daughter  take  the  train  for 
Peking.  But  this  is  secondary  in  his  mind.  If  he  turns 
back  now  Joel  may  grow  timid,  any  way  may  leave  his 
daughter  behind  him  with  Flora.  Actuated  by  the 
millions  that,  if  things  turn  out  as  he  hopes,  will  come 
to  him  through  his  wife,  Arthur  determines  to  venture 
a  little  farther. 

So  he  very  shortly  says :  "All  right !  Supposing  we 
go  to  Chieun's  country  place." 

"  Done !  "  returns  Boardrnan.  "  It  can't  be  hotter 
than  this  hole,"  and  goes  off  to  tell  Chieun's  secretary. 

Pondering  on  this,  the  adventurer,  though  nervous, 


1 84  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

is  not  altogether  displeased.  Afraid  of  being  rec- 
ognized in  Tien  Tsin,  he  thinks  the  pleasure 
gardens  of  the  great  Chinese  mandarin  pref- 
erable, even  to  a  seat  by  the  fountain  in  the 
hot  English  bund.  It  also  appeals  to  his  luxurious 
disposition.  He  remembers  that  Chieun  in  his  younger 
days  had  once  been  the  tao-tai  or  district  governor  of 
Tien  Tsin,  and  is  reported  to  have  a  big,  luxurious  pal- 
ace a  few  miles  away,  north  of  the  little  railroad  village 
of  Peit  Sang. 

"  Whatever  may  happen  at  Peking,"  cogitates  Mr. 
Passmere,  "  in  the  vicinity  of  Tien  Tsin,  so  near  the 
guns  of  foreign  warships,  everything  will  be  quiet, 
pleasant  and  peaceable,  as  it  always  is  when  one  man 
has  got  another  down  and  beaten  him  insensible." 

In  this  the  astute  Eastern  scoundrel  deceives  him- 
self. Had  Arthur  dared  to  go  out  in  the  streets  of  the 
European  concessions,  or  better  still  into  the  great 
native,  mud- walled  city  just  a  mile  or  two  up  the 
river,  he  had  probably  heard  enough  Chinese  talk  to 
warn  him  that  the  district  is  mined  with  most  touchy 
patriotic,  dragon,  political  gunpowder,  and  is  just  now 
being  made  ready  for  the  match  by  the  viceroy,  the 
salt  commissioner  and  Generals  Mah  and  Nieh;  who 
are  ready  to  bring  down  their  troops  from  Shanhai- 
kuan  and  surrounding  places. 

But  knowing  nothing  of  this,  he  both  reasons  and 
acts  upon  his  false  premises.  So,  the  next  morning, 
though  Miss  Passmere,  guided  by  some  woman's  in- 
stinct, would  dissent,  were  she  not  filled  with  a  lust 
for  vengeance  upon  her  rival  that  makes  her  nigh  des- 
perate, the  whole  party  make  a  merry  kind  of 
picnic  excursion,  as  Miss  Eira  expresses  it. 
They  take  the  railroad  for  the  few  miles  up 
the  river  to  Peit  Sang.  Being  met  there  by  Li 
Wong  Chieun's  Chinese  secretary  and  interpreter,  with 
a  procession  of  pony  carts  for  themselves,  and  donkey 
carts  for  their  luggage,  they  indulge  in  a  laughingly 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  185 

jolting  journey  over  a  high  mud  causeway,  running 
through  a  country  flat  as  a  billiard  table,  and  covered 
with  high  growing  broom-corn,  interspersed  with 
many  green  gardens  of  vegetable  truck,  and  a  few 
orchards,  mostly  bearing  the  famed  Tien  Tsin  pears. 

An  hour  of  this  and  the  massive  walls  peculiar  to 
the  residences  of  most  Chinese  grandees  loom  up  before 
them.  Within  the  spacious  courtyards  can  be 
seen  the  green  trees  of  its  orchards  and  pleas- 
ure gardens.  One  or  two  sprays  of  water  show 
high-throwing  fountains,  and  the  ripple  of  little 
streams,  running  under  graceful  bamboo  bridges 
and  by  the  side  of  pretty  kiosks,  tell  them  that 
they  are  entering  the  palace  of  a  prince,  who  lives 
upon  the  taxation  of  the  Chinese  peasantry ;  the  mag- 
nificence of  its  buildings  being  in  great  contrast  to  the 
rather  squalid  villages  they  have  passed. 

Dominating  all  these  is  a  three-tiered  marble  pa- 
goda, which  rises  graceful  as  a  white  swan  among  the 
foliage  of  flowering  peony-trees,  feathery  bamboos  and 
the  evergreen  larches  of  Northern  China.  The  sun 
lighting  its  symmetrical  roof  and  curving  balconies 
gives  it  an  almost  enchanted  beauty. 

"  Goodness,  this  is  like  the  'Arabian  Nights' !" 
ejaculates  Eira,  clapping  her  hands,  as  the  pony  carts 
rumble  in  under  the  heavy  entrance  arclrway. 

Even  the  Yankee  speculator  is  impressed  and  re- 
marks :  "  Looks  kinder  like  the  'Black  Crook.'  " 

But  little  Harold,  seated  in  his  mother's  lap,  cries 
excitedly :  "Ma  mainan,  it  is  Ic  chateau  de  Barbe  Bleue 
in  the  story  book." 

"  Bluebeard's  castle !  Mercy !  what  an  awful  mind 
you  have  child !  "  giggles  Flora. 

But  Miss  Passmere,  entering  the  walls  of  the  satrap 
has  grown  morbid ;  she  thinks  tremblingly :  "  Is  it  an 
omen?"  and  gazes  helplessly  and  half- repentantly  at 
the  great  lacquered  buildings  and  exquisite  pleasure 
grounds  of  the  mandarin  whose  ruthless  passion,  even 


1 86  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

as  a  distant  memory,  makes  her  loathe  herself. 

As  they  ride  from  garden  to  garden,  the  spacious- 
ness of  the  place  as  a  dwelling  is  bewildering  to  West- 
ern minds,  the  grounds  being  divided  by  many  high 
and  strong  walls,  into  a  number  of  separate  com- 
pounds, each  beautiful  and  having  its  own  particular 
buildings. 

Into  one  of  these,  situated  in  an  angle  of  the  outside 
walls  where  the  breezes  come  most  strongly,  for  the 
Chih-li  days  are  already  growing  very  hot,  though  the 
nights  are  still  cool,  the  American  and  his  party  are 
conducted,  with  affable  state  and  punctillious  cere- 
mony. 

Two  magnificent  pavilions,  built  of  brick,  yet  or- 
namented by  porcelain  and  even  jade,  give  spacious 
shelter  to  the  guests  of  Li  Wong  Chieun ;  and  a  garden, 
where  a  trickling  stream  running  under  high-arched 
bridges  to  a  gold-fish  pond  full  of  flowering  lotus  and 
lovely  as  that  of  the  enchanted  Persian  Princess  is  set 
apart  for  the  ladies'  plaisance.  From  a  corner  of  this 
compound  near  the  outer  walls  rises  the  three  tiered- 
pagoda,  stately  and  massive  in  the  lower  story,  light, 
graceful,  almost  floating  in  its  upper  galleries  and 
curving  roof  of  tiles ;  from  foundation  to  pinnacle  of 
gleaming  white  marble. 

The  whole  compound  is  cut  off  from  the  rest  of 
the  grounds  of  the  mandarin's  palace  by  a  solid  mud- 
brick  wall  ,some  ten  feet  high  and  four  feet  thick.  On 
the  other  side  of  this  can  be  seen  some  large  abutting 
buildings  and  a  gorgeous  kiosk.  Apparently  the  pa- 
vilion in  their  compound,  abutting  upon  the  same  wall, 
has  been  set  apart  for  the  ladies,  as  Eira  and  Miss  Pass- 
mere,  followed  by  Flora,  her  boy  and  ayah,  as  well 
as  their  maids,  are  immediately  ushered  into  it  by  sev- 
eral obsequious  attendant  women.  The  gentlemen  find 
both  spacious  and  pleasant  quarters  in  another. 

As  the  bowing  Lum  Kee  brushes  the  dust  of  travel 
from  his  master,  he  questions,  with  peculiar  eagerness 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  187 

for  a  Chinaman :  "  Sahib  Melican ;  everything  all 
lightee  for  the  glate  maker  of  arms  and  gliver  of 
death?" 

"  No;  but  it  will  be  when  you  get  tiffin  on  the  ta- 
ble," laughs  Joel. 

Shortly  after  this,  the  ladies,  coming  from  their 
rooms  in  fresh  white  dresses,  look  like  nymphs  in  the 
picturesque  garden.  Here,  being  joined  by  Passmere 
and  Boardman  in  immaculate  duck,  they  all  sit  down  in 
a  little  kiosk  to  a  Celestial  variation  of  an  English 
meal,  which  seems  very  pleasant  to  the  travelers ;  for 
Chinese  hospitality  is  always  unbounded;  French 
wines  and  champagnes  being  served  to  the  gentlemen 
with  Eastern  prodigality  before  their  coffee;  though 
the  ladies  sipping  mandarin  tea  from  rare  blue  porce- 
lain cups  of  Tai  ware,  pronounce  it  of  the  most  divine 
flavor  and  .delicate  aroma  that  has  ever  greeted  their 
fair  lips  and  pretty  nostrils. 

"  If  this  is  a  Boxer  uprising  in  North  China,  give 
me  a  little  more  Boxer,  eh  Passmere  ?  "  laughs  Joel, 
between  the  whiffs  of  an  exquisite  cigar. 

"  Yes ;  wasn't  Captain  Katsuma  foolish  about  it  ?  " 
prattles  Eira,  playing  with  some  sugared  limes.  "  His 
Japanese  chum  almost  frightened  poor  Jim  to  death 
about  me." 

"  Yes !  came  on  our  wedding  day  and  begged  Ar- 
thur not  to  bring  me!"  cries  Flora,  feasting  her  eyes 
upon  her  handsome  spouse.  "  As  if  I  could  be  driven 
by  any  danger  from  my  husband's  side."  She  sneaks 
a  little  white  hand  into  the  cold  palm  of  the  suave 
villain,  whose  fingers  despite  himself,  perspire  a  little 
at  the  monstrous  infamy  he  is  aiding,  though  knowing 
the  value  of  his  bride,  in  case  the  fate  he  has  lured 
Boardman  and  his  daughter  comes  upon  them,  he  will 
guard  her  very  carefully  from  Chinese  massacre. 

A  few  moments  after,  the  gentlemen  stroll  off  with 
their  cigars  and  climbing  the  massive  stairway  inside 
the  white  pagoda,  seat  themselves  on  its  breezy  top 


1 88  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

balcony;  as  the  ladies  go  to  chatting  together  quite 
pleasantly  over  their  tea;  the  luxurious  ending  to  her 
journey  making,  for  the  moment,  the  fairy-like  Miss 
Passmere's  spirits  buoyant. 

"  I  have  something  to  tell  you,  girls,"  whispers 
Flora,  whose  eyes  are  big  with  an  exciting  secret, 
"What  do  you  think?  It  is  quite  romantic.  Your 
maid,  Imogene,  Lie-lie,  who  speaks  the  North  China 
Pekingese  dialect,  whispers  to  me  that  the  pa- 
vilions in  the  adjoining  compound  are,  when  Li  Wong 
Chieun  comes  here,  the  harem  of  the  great  mandarin. 
He — he  has  left  some  inmates  behind  and  I  have  been 
trying  to  get  a  peek  bvef  the  wall  at  the  remnant  of 
his  wives,  concubines  and  myriad  lady  loves." 

For  a  moment  Miss  Passmere's  face  is  contorted  by 
a  sudden  agony,  then  she  whispers  sharply :  "  Flora, 
I  am  surprised  that  you  should  mention  such  things 
to  your  young  cousin.  I  know  Arthur  would  not  ap- 
prove." 

To  the  rebuke  of  her  self-appointed  mentor,  her 
charge  is  already  too  well-trained  to  make  reply.  Em- 
barrassed Flora  remains  silent  though  her  eyes  grow 
haughty  and  her  lip  quivers. 

But  Eira  cries :  "  What  a  little  prig  you  are,  Ge- 
nie !  "  then  laughs :  "  But  I  forgot ;  Jim  said  on  the 
City  of  Rio  Janeiro  they  always  called  you  the  little 
missionary  maid  because  you  pretended  to  be  so  good !" 
and  so  makes  her  enemy  hate  her  a  little  more. 

So  all  this  day  of  luxurious  rest  after  the  toils  of 
their  long  journey  every  one  seems  happy  save  Imo- 
gene. She  had  shrank  from  this  visit  to  the  mandarin's 
palace.  She  had  refused  to  leave  Tien  Tsin  till  Ar- 
thur had  said :  "  If  you  seem  to  fear  the  hospitality 
of  Chieun,  don't  expect  Boardman  to  have  too  much 
faith  in  it !  Come  along  or  you'll  frighten  our  prey 
as  they  stand  at  the  very  entrance  of  the  trap." 

So  driven  by  hatred  she  has  accompanied  her  vic- 
tim to  the  satrap's  palace.  Here,  long  after  nightfall, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  189 

Miss  Passmere  paces  the. lacquered  floor  of  her  cham- 
ber, and  remembering  Li  Wong  Chieun,  shudders: 
"  That  imp,  Harold,  said  Blue  Beard's  castle !  Next  to 
me  are  his  wives  and  concubines — of  which  I  am — oh, 
unmerciful  Heaven,  should  he  return  too  soon !" 

And  the  lovely  songs  of  the  Chinese  night- 
ingales that  come  to  her  from  neighboring 
thickets  of  feathery  bamboo  and  sweet-smelling 
magnolias  which  wave  over  clumps  of  tuberoses  whose 
midnight  perfume  makes  the  air  heavy,  do  not  soothe 
her  devilish  yet  perturbed  spirit. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE  COMING  OF  THE  MANDARIN. 

From  this  fairyland,  a  few  days  after,  Boardman 
lured  by  the  million  taels  that  are  waiting  for  him  in 
Peking,  and  notified  that  all  his  baggage  is  on  the 
railway  for  transportation  to  the  Chinese  capital  de- 
parts, taking  his  daughter ;  though  to  his  astonishment 
he  leaves  Passmere  with  his  wife  and  sister  and  little 
Harold  behind  him. 

This  is  brought  about  by  the  following  conversation  : 
"  Arthur,  you  had  better  get  your  wife's  boxes  for- 
warded to  the  railway  station,"  Joel  has  remarked 
laughingly,  as  the  two,  after  a  luxurious  meal  are  en- 
joying their  evening  cigars  in  the  cool  breeze  of  the 
highest  balcony  of  the  pagoda;  "Flora,  I  think,  has 
more  trunks  than  my  daughter,  and  that  is  saying  a 
good  deal." 

Here  the  Honorable  Arthur,  knocking  the  ashes 
from  his  cigar  over  the  marble  balustrade,  has  aston- 
ished his  uncle  by  marriage.  He  has  said.  "  I  will  fol- 
low you  to  Peking  in  a  few  days,  Uncle  Boardy." 

"  You,  Flora  and  Miss  Passmere  are  not  going  with 


108  ?AtfGL£t»  FLAdS. 

my  daughter  and  me  ?  "  queries  the  wondering  finan- 
cier. 

"  No !  While  in  Tien  Tsin  I  received  a  special  mes- 
sage from  Sir  Claude,  charging  me  to  do  some  very 
private  business  for  him  during  the  next  few  days 
with  the  British  consul  there.  It's  mighty  ticklish  and 
secret.  You  noticed  that  I  did  not  leave  my  apartments 
at  the  hotel  when  in  that  place;  the  English  minister 
wishes  me  to  keep  it  very  quiet,  can't  yer  see?" 

"  How  long  do  you  think  Macdonald's  affair  will  de- 
lay you  ?  " 

"  Only  a  few  days.  I  will  jog  down  to  Tien  Tsin 
to-morrow,  its  only  seven  or  eight  miles ;  I  shall  see  you 
on  Legation  Street,  Peking,  in  a  week  or  two  at  the 
latest.  You  will  not  want  to  return  from  the  capital 
for  some  time,  I  am  sure.  You  will  never  be  able  to 
get  Eira  away  from  the  legations  during  the  summer, 
don't  yer  know."  Using  the  privilege  of  being  mar- 
ried to  her  cousin  the  scoundrel  has  got  to  calling  his 
victim  by  her  first  name. 

"  It  is  the  most  beautiful  place  on  earth,"  he  con- 
tinues, "  that  Pa-ta-chu,  the  Hill  of  the  Eight  Big 
Temples ;  streams  foaming  down  mountain  gorges  and 
flooding  marble  fish-ponds  filled  with  lotus  flowers  and 
goldfish,  can't  yer  see." 

"  Well,  I  have  got  to  go  on  at  once,"  says  the  Amer- 
ican, shortly.  "  My  money  is  waiting  me  at  Peking ; 
and  a  million  taels  is  worth  looking  after." 

Whereupon,  though  somewhat  disgruntled  by  the 
desertion  of  the  Passmere  party,  Joel  very  early  the 
next  morning,  attended  by  Lum  Kee,  takes  his  daugh- 
ter, and  getting  over  the  two  or  three  miles  to  the 
Peking  railway  by  pony-cart  boards  the  train  at  the 
Peit  Sang  station ;  and  that  evening  finds  himself  in  the 
Chinese  capital. 

Here  his  business  is  unaccountably  delayed  by 
what  he  curses  as  Chinese  bureaucratic  methods,  but 
which  are  really  the  astute  work  of  Li  Wong  Chieunj 


FLAGS.  101 

who  is  watching  the  Dowager  Empress  to  see  which 
way  the  Chinese  dragon  will  jump:  foreign  or  anti- 
foreign  ;  a  mistake  on  this  vital  point  being  dangerous 
to  his  head. 

During  this  time,  Miss  Eira,  accepting  the  hospitality 
of  the  wife  of  the  American  minister  and  Lady  Mac- 
donald,  passes  a  few  delightful  days  up  at  the  "  Hills," 
that  summer  Mecca  of  the  European  legations  in  China 
amid  amorous  attaches  and  ardent  diplomats,  who 
bow  not  only  to  her  great  wealth  but  also  to  her  radiant 
beauty  which  has  become  more  spirituelle  than  ever ; 
for  another  letter  has  reached  the  young  lady  from 
the  lieutenant  of  the  Ninth  Infantry  in  the  Philippines, 
to  put  additional  soul  in  the  depths  of  her  blue  eyes. 

All  the  while,  with  his  bride  and  sister,  Arthur 
lingers  luxuriously  in  the  mandarin's  palace,  and  at- 
tended by  Flora,  who  flits  by  his  side  through  the 
lovely  gardens  and  lights  his  cigars  and  brings  his 
B  and  S's  to  him,  waiting  for  news  of  a  catastrophe 
from  North  China  which  comes  not.  Too  confident; 
the  scoundrel  keeps  within  Li  Wong  Chieun's  country 
palace,  which  is  several  miles  distant  from  the  Peking 
railway;  otherwise  he  would  notice  the  passage  of  the 
foreign  marines  from  Tien  Tsin  to  protect  their  lega- 
tions in  the  capital,  or  certainly  would  receive  some 
hint  to  betake  himself  at  least  as  far  as  the  European 
concessions  by  the  Pei-Ho  River  bank. 

Twice  his  sister,  who  waiting,  has  grown  very  ner- 
vous, tells  him  it  is  best  to  go,  whispering:  "I  have  seen 
parties  of  men  bearing  those  peculiar  three-cornered 
Boxer  banners  passing  on  the  near-by  roads ;  but  these, 
noting  the  flag  of  the  mandarin  floating  over  his  pal- 
ace, have  not  come  near.  Besides,  to-day,  I  thought  I 
heard  the  sound  of  distant  musketry  towards  the  south- 
east." 

"  If  we  fled  from  here  suddenly,  and  word  of  it  got 
by  any  chance  to  Boardman,  it  might  frighten  him 
away  from  Peking  before  out  object  is  accomplished," 


102  TANGLED  FLAGS, 

observes  Arthur  in  mathematical  suaveness.  "Be- 
sides, Genie,  if  there  is  trouble  about  Tien 
Tsin,  here,  under  the  Chinese  war  commis- 
sioner's flag,  is  the  safest  place  for  us,  likewise 
Flora,  whom  we  must  guard  very  carefully,  for 
through  her  will  come  to  us  the  multi-millions  of  her 
uncle,  after  Li  Wong  Chieun  has  done  him  up  for  the 

million  taels,  and "  Scoundrel  as  he  is  Passmere 

cannot  frame  the  sentence. 

"  And  made  his  daughter  dies  with  shame,"  inter- 
jects Imogene,  hoarsely.  Yes,  I  am  waiting  to  hear 
that.  That's  what  induces  me  to  take  the  danger  of 
lingering  here.  I  want  to  know  that  Miss  Immacu- 
late has  been  thrown  to  the  earth  and  sullied  as  I " 

Her  teeth,  piercing  'her  lip,  check  her  words. 

At  this  her  brother,  misunderstanding  the  peculiar 
import  of  her  speech,  gives  a  low  whistle,  and  laughs : 
"Oho,  I  always  thought  it  was  jealously  or  something 
feminine  and  fiendish  that  made  my  little  sister  so 
vindicative.  It  wasn't  the  money,  it  was  revenge.  My 
Genie  was  thwarted  in  some  love  affair  t>y  the  beauti- 
ful Miss  Boardman.  Was  it  the  Japanese  captain  or 
the  young  American  lieutenant  ?  Both  have  given  their 
hearts " 

"  Yes,  both  have  given  their  hearts  to  Miss  Ethereal," 
snarls  his  sister,  "  but  I  want  only  one.  I'll  have  him, 
too!  Tell  me  as  soon  as  you  hear  that  Li  Wong  Chieun 
has  done  his  work." 

And  the  little  wretch  strides  off  to  her  dressing- 
room  from  which  the  squeals  of  her  two  Chinese  slave 
maids  who  are  being  soundly  caned  soon  proclaim  that 
Miss  Passmere  has  grown  irritable  under  the  strain  of 
a  hideous  and  uncertain  waiting. 

Suddenly  the  bamboo  in  Imogene's  hand  is  arrested, 
and  the  shrinking  Lie-lie  looks  ur>  and  sees  she  has  a 
protector.  Mrs.  Passmere  running  in,  is  grasping 
nervously  the  wrist  of  the  stern  mistress  and  expos- 


TANGLED  FLAGS. 


'93 


tulating :  "  Don't  be  so  cruel,  Genie !  Don't  beat  the 
poor  girl  so !  " 

"  Take  your  hand  from  my  arm,  Flora !  "  says  Miss 
Passmere  icily.  "  You  know  it  is  the  only  way  to  get 
along  with  Chinese  slaves.  Would  you  'destroy  my 
authority  over  one  who  has  known  my  rule  and 
loves  me  for'it,  ever  since  I  bought  her  in  Wenchow, 
years  ago?  " 

But  Flora's  fingers  still  clutching  her  wrist,  Imogene 
whispers  :  "  You,  yourself,  forget !  Your  hand  from 
my  arm  instantly!  Remember  that  letter  from  that 
Baron,  which  I  have  not  yet  shown  to  your  husband." 

Shrinking  from  her,  Flora  bows  her  head  and  runs 
from  the  room,  and  Miss  Passmere  proceeds  unrelent- 
ingly with  her  correction. 

Flora's  interference  has  saved  the  unfortunate  Chin- 
ese girl  not  one  blow,  but  it  has  gained  for  her  a  faith- 
ful Chinese  heart  that  some  day  may  repay  the  copper- 
cash  of  sympathy  with  the  golden  shekels  of  a  mighty 
gratitude. 

Imogene  never  alludes  to  the  incident,  but  Flora's 
shrinking  manner  proclaims  that  her  talisman  of  the 
Baron's  letter  is  still  potent  over  the  aesthetic  Mrs. 
Passmere. 

The  movement  of  troops  of  which  his  sister  has  in- 
formed him  makes  Arthur  uneasy.  He  seeks  Chieun's 
secretary,  but  finds  he  has  disappeared.  Speaking  the 
language  he  goes  to  pumping  the  Chinese  attendants, 
who  meander  through  their  domestic  duties  with  an 
Oriental  placidity  that  almost  deceives  the  Eastern  ad- 
venturer. From  them,  however,  he  at  last  picks  up  that 
there  is  fighting  down  Tungku  way  between  some  Rus- 
sians and  the  I-Ho-Chuan.  Pondering  over  this  Pass- 
mere  grows  agitated,  and  says  to  his  sister :  :<  To- 
morrow we  will  get  out  of  here  and  go  to  Tien  Tsin, 
yer  understand." 

They  have  already  made  their  arrangements,  when 
that  evening  they  receive  a  shock. 


194  TANGLED  FLAQS. 

Late  at  night,  there  comes  to  them,  conducted  by  the 
ever-smiling  Lum  Kee  and  the  near-sighted  interpreter 
of  Li  Wong  Chieun,  an  excited,  travel-stained,  almost 
wild-eyed  Yankee,  bringing  with  him  a  worn-out 
young  lady,  whose  white  dress  shows  the  stains  of 
Pei-Ho  valley  dust ;  whose  dainty  boots  are  almost  torn 
off  her  little  feet  from  struggling  through  muddy 
causeways.  It  is  the  American  manufacturer  and  his 
daughter. 

To  Arthur's  astonished  questions  Boardman  gasps : 
"  Something  to  revive  my  child ;  and  cut  this  cussed 
Chih-li  dust  out  of  my  burning  throat." 

And  Passmere  with  rather  a  shaking  hand  giving 
him  wine,  he  pours  part  of  it  between  his  daughter's 
parched  lips,  and  quaffing  the  rest  startles  the  party 
by  saying  hoarsely :  "By  Goliah,  I  reckon  I  am  about 
the  last  Foreign  Devil  out  of  Peking!" 

"  Good  Heavens !  "  This  is  a  scream  from  Flora ; 
for  both  she  and  Imogene  have  run  out. 

"  Yes,  they  tore  up  the  railway  just  as  we  got  to 
Peit  Sang.  That  cut  me  off;  but  Lum  Kee  recognized 
the  station,  and  somehow  that  near-sighted  secretary 
of  Li  Wong  Chieun  happened  to  be  about,  and  so  we 
got  through,  he  chattering  to  surrounding  coolies  and 
threatening  Boxers  about  my  being  the  mandarin's 
friend." 

"  Oh,  gracious !  Your  French  maid  ?  Have  they 
killed  her  ? "  gasps  Flora. 

"  Shucks,  the  girl  was  too  frightened  to  travel,  and 
we  left  her  at  the  French  legation,"  answers  Board- 
man. 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  also  leave  your  daughter  be- 
hind you  ?  "  queries  Passmere,  uneasily. 

"  Because  I  thought  I  could  get  her  through  O.  K., 
and  by  the  blessing  of  God  I  have  done  it,"  answers  her 
father.  "  Four  hundred  foreign  marines  got  into  Pe- 
king before  I  left,  and  the  legations  may  hold  out  but 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  195 

I  guess  Sir  Claude  and  Conger  and  the  rest  of  them 
will  have  to  stand  a  siege." 

"  Besides,"  asserts  Eira,  who  is  regaining  her  vivac- 
ity, "  I  wouldn't  let  him  leave  me  behind ;  I  wouldn't 
be  cut  off  from  the  outside  world.  To  remain  in  Pe- 
king would  have  meant  imprisonment,  and  I  will  be 
in  touch  with  the  man  I  love." 

"  Bravo !  "  cries  Imogene ;  and  her  face,  which  had 
been  for  a  moment  almost  sympathetic,  now  becomes 
set  as  marble.  "  You  had  better  come  in,  Eira,"  she 
goes  on  quietly.  "  Fortunately  you  left  some  of  your 
trunks  behind  you,  so  you  have  fresh  dresses."  And 
Miss  Judas  assists  the  girl  she  is  bent  on  betraying  to 
worse  than  death,  into  the  pavilion. 

Flora,  whose  face  is  pale,  and  who  has  twice  whis- 
pered to  herself:  "My  boy!"  and  once  clasped  her 
hands  nervously  together  and  shuddered :  "  Danger  to 
my  little  Harold !  "  would  follow  them.  This  lady's 
hysterical  nature  is  a  menace  to  her  plans  that  Miss 
Passmere  has  feared.  Flora's  love  for  her  boy  may 
make  her  break  out  in  some  moment  when  they  must 
control  her.  Imogene  had  advised  her  brother  to  leave 
the  urchin  behind  at  Hong  Kong,  but  the  child  was 
too  young  for  school,  and  had  to  be  brought  if  his 
mother  came,  and  Flora's  presence  was  vital  to  induce 
Boardman  to  bring  his  daughter.  Therefore  as  Eira 
passes  into  her  room  Imogene  stops  Flora  in  the  hall- 
way and  whispers:  "Don't  come  with  your  cousin, 
you  are  hysterical  already." 

"  But  I  must  hear  the  news  from  Peking ;  I  want 
to  know  if  there  is  any  danger  to  my  child  here." 

"  There  is  none ;  were  there  danger  to  him,  there 
would  be  danger  to  all  of  us,"  answers  Miss  Pass- 
mere,  sharply.  "  Your  emotional  nature  is  overcoming 
you,  Flora.  Yon  will  distress  your  cousin,  who  has 
suffered  too. much  anxiety  and  fatigue  this  day." 

But  Flora  almost  pressing  past  her,  her  self-ap- 
pointed governante's  voice  suddenly  becomes  very 


196  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

stern  though  very  low.  She  commands :  "  Go  to  your 
boy  at  once.  I  hear  Harold  crying.  The  careless  ayah 
neglects  him;  it  is  already  his  bedtime.  Why  don't 
you  attend  to  your  child  ?  " 

At  this  ingenious  but  unjust  reflection,  indignant 
tears  fly  into  the  beautiful  eyes  of  the  accused.  "  My 
Heavens,  Genie,  how  can  you  reproach  me  with  that  ?  I 
love  my  husband  and  you  hold  a  past  flirtation  over  my 
head ;  I  adore  my  boy  and  you  suggest  that  I  neglect 
him,"  falters  Flora,  and  goes  droooingly  but  rapidly 
away  to  do  her  monitress's  bidding. 

Left  with  Passmere,  Joel,  who  American  like,  by  this 
time  has  got  some  whiskey  near  him,  takes  another 
drink,  and  pointing  to  five  mule  carts,  each  one  loaded 
with  a  great  box,  that  are  making  their  way  into  the 
court-yard,  chuckles :  "  By  hockey,  here  comes  my 
baggage !  "  and  orders  the  packing  cases  put  into  his 
bedroom,  which  he  says  is  big  enough  for  a  storehouse. 

"  Is  that  the  silver  ? "  asks  Passmere,  then  suddenly 
whispers :  "  No !  a  million  taels  is  about  fifty  tons ;  it 
would  take  at  lea^.  seventy-five  pony-carts." 

"  The  silver?  Not  much!  "  grins  Boardman,  "Those 
are  my  automatic  rapid-fires  and  ammunition.  They 
are  not  worth  much  so  I  brought  them  along  with  me." 

"  But  the  silver  ?  Didn't  you  get  it  from  the  Chin- 
ese government  ?  "  again  queries  Arthur,  who  knows 
part  of  Li  Wong  Chieun's  plot  depends  upon  Board- 
man's  receipt  of  the  metal. 

"  You  bet  I  did.  What  did  I  go  to  Peking  for?  " 
grins  the  man  of  business. 

"  Then  what  have  you  done  with  it?  " 

"  Well,  I  don't  mind  telling  you,"  chuckles  the  Yan- 
kee. And,  lowering  his  voice,  he  nearly  knocks  Mr. 
Passmere  off  his  feet  by  whispering :  "  I  had  it  all 
buried  under  one  of  the  British  legation  buildings  in 
Peking.  Four  hundred  assorted  marines,  and  Sir 
Claude's  under  secretary  are  taking  care  of  it  for  me.  It 
was  too  bulky  and  heavy  for  running  the  Boxer  block- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  197 

ade ;  as  you  say,  it  would  have  taken  seventy-five  carts 
to  bring  it  up  from  the  Peit  Sang  station."  Here  the 
American  starts,  looks  astounded,  and  mutters :  "And, 
by  Jingo,  that's  funny !  Hang  me  if  Li  Wong  Chieun's 
secretary  whom  we  picked  up  at  the  station  by  good 
luck  after  our  train  was  headed  off,  didn't  have  just 
about  seventy-five  donkey  and  pony  carts  with  him, 
and  seemed  rather  astonished  that  I  only  wanted  five. 
But,  by  Mother  Goose,  I  am  hungry."  And  Joel  calls 
in  his  pidgin  American :  "  Hi  Lumky,  gettee  din- 
ner quick  as  hellee!  Reckon  my  daughter  can  pick  a 
bit  as  well  as  I,"  and  goes  in  to  wash  the  dust  of  travel, 
and  mud  of  the  Pei-Ho  valley  from  him. 

Thinking  over  all  this  late  that  night,  Passmere  mut- 
ters to  himself:  "  Seventy-five  carts  were  at  the  Piet 
Sang  station.  Li  Wong  Chieun  expected  the  Ameri- 
can to  bring  his  silver  with  him  here.  The  railroad 
torn  up!  Have  I  played  this  game  too  thin?  By  the 
Lord  Harry,  I,  myself,  am  in  Li  Wong  Chieun's  hands 
when  he  comes  here  to  complete  his  crime — if —  "  he 
slaps  his  clammy  hands  nervously  together — "if — we 
are  really  cut  off  from  Tien  Tsin." 

THE  NEXT  DAY  HE  KNOWS  THEY  ARE! 

Machine-guns  and  cannon  are  heard  to  the  south- 
east. Troops  are  seen  passing  in  large  bodies.  It  is 
the  army  of  General  Mah. 

"  What  are  we  going  to  do  ?  "  whispers  Boardman ; 
whose  face  has  grown  very  serious.  He  is  thinking  of 
his  daughter. 

"  The  only  thing  at  present,"  remarks  the  man  of 
Eastern  experiences,  "  is  to  remain  here.  This  is  the 
safest  place  in  the  whole  province  of  Chih-li.  The  flag 
of  the  great  mandarin  floats  over  it." 

"  Yes !  but  hang  it,  Chieun's  got  no  soldiers !  I  see 
only  servants." 

"  That  is  our  safety.  Were  soldiers  about  I  should 
fear.  As  it  is,  we  can,  I  imagine,  live  quietly  and 
luxuriously  in  this  delightful  spot  until  the  railroad  is 


198  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

forced  again  by  the  Allies,  and  we  travel  safely  into 
the  Treaty  Port.  Absolute  inaction  appears  to  be  our 
best  safety." 

"  Well !  darn  me  if  it  don't  look  that  way !  "  sighs 
the  Yankee,  "  but  I  wish  my  daughter  and  your  wife 
and  sister  were  not  here." 

From  this,  Mr.  Passmere  goes  off  to  interview 
Chieun's  secretary.  To  him,  this  official  says,  his  near- 
sighted eyes  twinkling :  "  All  right,  by  and  by !  " 

Which  assurance  is  .he  most  definite  Arthur  can  get 
out  of  him. 

So  a  few  more  days  are  spent  anxiously  listening  to 
the  rumble  of  the  fighting  as  Admiral  Seymour's'  relief 
marine  division  forces  its  way  up  the  railroad,  too  few 
in  numbers  to  expand  and  reach  them,  and  its  return 
battles  on  the  river,  where  for  its  own  salvation  it 
desperately  captures  and  occupies  the  big  Hsi-Ku  arse- 
nal above  the  native  town  of  Tien  Tsin. 

Then  follow  more  wearing  weeks,  during  which  the 
unceasing  roll  of  distant  artillery  tells  of  the  fearful 
bombardment  of  the  European  Concessions,  till  grad- 
ually the  arriving  troops  of  all  nations  force  the  fight 
and  slaughter  from  the  English  and  foreign  settle- 
ments and  the  battle  rolls  about  the  huge  native  Chi- 
nese city. 

Of  these  events  Mr.  Boardman's  party  have  no  exact 
conception ;  they  only  guess  that  desperate  combat  is 
going  on  to  the  southeast  of  them ;  even  Passmere, 
though  he  exhausts  his  Chinese  dialects  and  diplo- 
matic methods  upon  Li  Wong  Chieun's  secretary,  who 
seems  to  act  as  major-domo  of  the  vast  establishment, 
fails  to  discover  more  than  that  a  Foreign  Devil's  life 
would  scarce  last  longer  than  a  few  hundred  breaths, 
did  he  venture  outside  the  palace  walls  of  the  power- 
ful Chinese  satrap  who  is  high  in  the  Empress  Dow- 
ager's favor,  and  whose  voice  is  listened  to  by  the 
Manchu  leaders,  the  bloodthirsty  Prince  Tuan,  the 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  199 

tigerish  General  Tung-Fu-Hsiang  and  the  snake-like 
astute  Kang-Yi. 

During  this  time  Passmere  makes  a  wild  effort  to 
reach  Tien  Tsin ;  urged  by  his  sister,  who  whispers  in 
despairing  voice  to  him :  "If  Chieun  comes — if  the 
tragedy  is  here !  To  make  sure  the  American  govern- 
ment never  knows — we,  his  accomplices,  will  pass 
away  with  his  victims." 

From  this  attempt  almost  within  the  hour  he  returns 
and  falters  to  Imogene :  '*  I'm  lucky  to  get  back  alive. 
The  country  is  ablaze.  Our  only  chance  is  to  remain 
under  the  flag  of  the  mandarin,  and  trust  that  Chieun 
cannot  or  will  not  come." 

Suddenly  towards  evening  on  that  day  when  the 
roar  of  battle  from  distant  Tien  Tsin  rises  most  per- 
sistently and  savagely  on  the  air,  the  Eastern  adven- 
turer wishes  himself  anywhere  in  the  Universe  than 
where  he  is.  He  now  fears  for  the  safety  of  his 
own  vile  carcass;  though  his  unsuspecting  victims  are 
happy. 

For  Boardman  has  run  up  to  the  balcony  of  the  big 
pagoda  and  is  crying  in  relieved  and  cheery  voice :  "  By 
George  Washington,  my  friend  Chieun  at  last!  Now 
all  will  be  well !  "  And  Eira,  flying  to  her  father's 
side,  is  laughing :  "  Chieun's  here !  The  great  man- 
darin will  now  conduct  us  to  some  treaty  port."  And 
Flora  with  tears  in  her  eyes  is  holding  up  Harold  over 
the  white  marble  balustrade  to  see  His  Excellency,  the 
War-Commissioner-High,  and  whispering  to  her  boy: 
"  He'll  save  my  darling  from  the  naughty  Boxers ;" 
that  urchin  replying  in  his  polygot:  "  Mein  Himmel! 
ma  maman,  it's  the  old  blear-eyed  Chinaman  who  used 
to  make  Herr  Captain  Japanese  look  so  savage  when  he 
blinked  at  Cousin  Eira.  Eh,  voila!  but  haven't  they 
flags  enough  to  go  around  ?  " 

So  all  these  poor,  beleaguered  ones  save  Passmere 
and  his  sister  go  to  waving  their  handkerchiefs  and 
cheering  to  a  curious  procession  of  nigh  a  thousand 


200  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

Viceroy's  soldiers  and  Boxer  coolies  with  scarlet  spots 
on  their  clothes  and  red  cord  woven  in  their  pigtails, 
each  having  over  his  heart  a  yellow-josh  to  make  him 
bullet-proof,  mixed  with  a  few  long-garbed,  smooth- 
pated  Buddhist  bruzes. 

These,  headed  by  the  War-Commissioner-High  in 
his  gorgeous  mandarin  robes  of  office,  and  wear- 
ing his  yellow  girdle,  and  borne  in  a  sedan  chair 
of  state  by  eight  running  coolies,  enter  the  massive 
gates  of  his  palace  and  close  them  upon  the  outer 
world,  shutting  in  a  man  and  two  women  who  are 
merry  with  joy  of  life  renewed,  a  giggling  child,  and  a 
man  and  woman  who  are  ghastly  with  fear  of  imminent 
death;  while  seven  miles  away  over  the  budding 
broom-corn  is  still  the  hoarse  thumping  rumbling  that 
tells  of  seemingly  unending  battle,  down  Tien  Tsin 
way. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  FEAST  OF  BELSHAZZAR. 

From  the  sight  of  waving  banners  and  Boxer  sol- 
diers Passmere  walks  shudderingly  to  find  his  sister 
seated  in  the  seclusion  of  a  bamboo  thicket,  white  as 
death  and  trembling  in  every  limb. 

Knowing  Chinese  methods  they  very  well  guess 
that  if  the  mandarin  perpetrates  his  crime  against 
Boardman  and  his  daughter,  he  will  doubtless  do  away 
with  any  inconvenient  foreign  witnesses  he  may  have 
within  his  grasp,  all  the  more  that  they  have  decoyed 
his  prey  into  his  clutches;  therefore  their  whispered 
consultation  is  well  nigh  despairing. 

"  Our  best  hope  is  that  the  Empress  Dowager, 
frightened  by  gathering  warships  and  coming  armies, 
has  changed  her  woman's  mind  and  jumped  foreign; 


TAXGLED   FLAGS.  2OI 

disgraced  Tuan  and  issued  an  edict  against  the  I-Ho- 
Chuan,"  mutters  Arthur  gloomily. 

"  You — you  should  never  have  brought  me  here,  you 
fool !  "  shudders  Imogene.  "  Wasn't  Flora's  fortune 
enough  for  us  ?  " 

"  Hanged  if  I  didn't  want  to  give  up  the  affair,  only 
you  in  your  insane  envy  of  your  successful  rival  forced 
this  accursed  business  on  me,"  snarls  her  brother,  as 
he  tries  with  uncertain  ringers  to  roll  a  cigarette. 

A  merry  party  are  descending  from  the  white  pa- 
goda. 

"  God  grant  that  finding  Boardman's  million  taels 
out  of  his  clutches,"  mutters  Passmere,  "  Chieun  will 
forego  the  other  part  of  his  design,  judging  it,  from 
Forbidden-City-politics,  too  dangerous  to  his  wicked 
old  head.  The  Empress  Dowager,  don't  yer  see, 
thinks  no  more  of  decapitating  a  prince  than  a  coolie. 
The  wary  old  fox  has  been  in  the  capital  watching  how 
the  Chinese  dragon  will  jump.  If  the  cry  is:  'Down 
with  Foreign  Devils ! '  after  the  mandarin  has  seized 
that  sylph-like  goddess  who  is  pratting  so  merrily  over 
there  by  the  fountain,  and  to  do  this  I  can  tell  you 
he'll  have  to  slay  her  Yankee  father,  both  you  and  me 
my  little  Genie,  will  be  goners,"  sighs  the  adventurer. 
"  Ex-opium  smugglers  can  scarcely  escape  when 
American  multi-millionaires  are  sacrificed,  don't  yer 
know?" 

To  this  gloomy  prognostication  Imogene  answers 
nothing,  though  vengeful  even  in  her  despair ;  the  little 
wretch  thinks  savagely:  "Anyway,  Miss  Immaculate, 
soiled,  crushed,  made  to  loathe  herself  as  I  do,  goes 
also !  " 

For  Eira  is  prattling  joyously :  "  Soon  I  shall 
join  the  man  I  love,  Flora.  If  we  escape  I  made 
Papa  promise  that  I  might  wed  Jim  when  I  choose. 
All  will  be  bright  and  happy  from  now  on  for- 
evermore."  And  the  young  fiancee  makts  an  ex- 


202  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

quisite  picture  as  she  kisses  and  thanks  her  father, 
whose  stern  old  eyes  are  now  dim  with  tears. 

Looking  on  her  rival's  confident  hope,  Miss  Pass- 
mere  smiles  an  uncanny  smile,  then  suddenly  shivers 
as  if  stricken  by  the  ague.  Li  Wong  Chieun's  near- 
sighted Han-lin  Literati  secretary  bowing  before 
them,  is  announcing  in  careful  yet  accurate  English: 
"  My  master,  the  great  mandarin,  in  joy  of  his  arrival, 
begs  that  his  guest,  the  august  American  an'd  his  party, 
will  honor  him  by  accepting  the  evening  meal  at  his 
hands  and  in  his  presence,  at  his  kiosk  on  the  white 
lotus  lake  in  his  private  gardens.  His  Excellency  spe- 
cially invites  the  ladies !  "  The  Chinese  secretary  rolls 
his  languid  eyes  toward  Imogene.  "  The  collation  will 
be  served  under  lantern-lights  at  dusk,  amid  the  songs 
of  Mongolian  larks  and  Canton  thrushes.  August  Mr. 
Boardman,  will  you  do  my  master  honor?  " 

"  You  bet !  "  answers  the  American,  cheerfully.  "  I 
want  to  shake  my  friend  Chieun  by  the  hand  for  taking 
all  this  trouble  for  our  safety." 

"  Come?  Of  course  we  will!  and  put  on  our  pretti- 
est frocks,  eh  Flora  ?  to  thank  the  mandarin  for  reliev- 
ing our  anxiety.  We  have  hardly  time  to  get  ready," 
laughs  Eira.  Radiant  with  hope,  she  trips  lightly  over 
the  green  to  her  room,  her  arm  about  Mrs.  Passmere's 
slight  waist,  who  with  a  mother's  unselfish  love  seems 
to  think  but  of  the  safety  of  her  little  urchin  she  car- 
ries in  her  arms. 

As  Miss  Passmere  turns  silently  to  follow  them,  her 
brother  places  his  hand  upon  her  arm  and  whispers : 
"  Now  that  we  are  in  Chieun's  hands  by  evil  fortune, 
our  only  hope,  Genie,  is  to  do  the  satrap's  will.  I 
might  bluff  him  in  an  English  colony  like  Hong  Kong, 
or  even  a  treaty  port,  but  here  we  are  in  his  power." 

With  these  words  of  deeper  import  in  her  ear  than 
even  her  advisor  thinks,  Imogene  strides  half- 
stumbling  away,  to  make  her  toilet  for  the  banquet  of 
the  War-Commissioner-High;  while  Passmere,  hi$ 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  203 

hand  shaking  slightly  though  he  has  by  this  time  con- 
trived to  light  his  cigarette,  forcing  himself  to  pla- 
cidity languidly  strolls  to  Boardman  and  suggests: 
"  Best  let  Li  Wong  Chieun  know  that  your  million  taels 
in  silver  are  up  at  the  British  legation,  Peking  way." 

"  Why  so  ?  "  asks  the  American ;  looking  astonished. 

"  Oh !  everything's  money  in  China ;  and  service  like 
the  mandarin  proposes  to  give  you  will  cost  a  good 
deal  if  he  happens  to  think  the  cash  is  in  front  of  him." 

"  I  don't  believe  Chieun  wants  a  cent  for  saving  me 
and  my  daughter,"  says  the  Yankee  heartily.  "  We 
came  up  to  Peking  at  his  invitation,  he  gave  me  the 
million  taels  himself  and  got  my  receipt  for  the  Chinese 
government.  At  the  capital,  Eira  seemed  to  make  a 
great  impression  on  him.  I  have  a  better  opinion 
of  His  Excellency  than  you,  Passmere,  though  I 
presume  you  are  so  hand  and  glove  with  the  English 
legation  that  you  think  you  know  everything  po- 
litical. That  business  for  the  British  Minister,  which 
kept  you  down  here,  must  have  been  mighty  pri- 
vate and  circumspect,"  chuckles  Joel,  ''  When  I  men- 
tioned your  name  to  Sir  Claude  hang  me  if  that  wary 
diplomat  didn't  affect  to  have  never  heard  of  you ;  and 
as  for  Sir  Robert  Hart,  when  I  suggested  you,  he 
looked  the  unutterable." 

"  Yes,  we  diplomatists  are  pretty  deep,  yer  know. 
Still  waters  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,"  murmurs  Ar- 
thur, and  wanders  off  to  make  his  preparations  for  the 
mandarin's  banquet,  with  a  heavy  heart. 

This  is  not  made  lighter  by  the  festival,  some  hours 
later,  which  seems  to  the  adventurer  as  he  inspects  it 
with  anxious  eye,  like  a  banquet  of  death — though  it  is 
a  feast  of  fairyland. 

In  faultless  evening  dress,  Arthur  stands  at  the  foot 
of  the  lacquered  steps  that  lead  to  an  exquisite  kiosk  in 
the  mandarin's  private  garden ;  and,  after  gallantly 
assisting  the  ladies,  silently  watches  the  party  headed 


204  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

by  Boardman  enter  between  kowtowing  servants,  to 
be  welcomed  by  the  Chinese  potentate. 

At  renewed  lease  of  life,  all  are  merry  save  Miss 
Passmere  and  her  brother,  the  ladies  in  their -light 
evening  robes  looking  like  sylphs;  Imogene,  with  her 
slight  but  exquisitely  moulded  figure,  appearing  per- 
haps the  most  fairy-like  of  them  all ;  though  as  Ar- 
thur stands  below  her  he  notices  his  sister's  tiny  feet 
in  high-heeled  white  satin  slippers  and  delicate,  gleam- 
ing hosiery,  tremble  and  falter  as  she  approaches  the 
presence  of  Li  Wong  Chieun. 

To  himself  he  cogitates  gloomily :  "  Poor  little 
Genie  is  more  frightened  than  I  am  of  that  Chinese 
devil,"  then  mutters :  "  What,  in  Heaven's  name,  has 
been  going  on  at  the  native  city  ?  " 

For,  as  it  has  done  all  this  day,  the  dull  thud  of  dis- 
tant battle  down  Tien  Tsin  way  vibrates  in  the  air 
and  now  it  forms  a  low,  sad  bass  to  some  serpent-fid- 
dles, high-keyed,  discordant  clarionettes,  cymbals, 
gongs  and  bells,  which  give  forth  an  exasperating, 
weird,  Chinese  musical  welcome. 

Heaving  a  sigh,  Arthur  strides  in  after  his  sister,  to 
gaze  upon  a  table  which,  majestic  in  its  art  treasures 
of  porcelain,  antique  bronzes  and  cloisonne-enamel, 
and  covered  with  flowers  gorgeous  beyond  imagina- 
tion, is  set  for  festival,  in  the  graceful  yet  spacious 
kiosk. 

Through  the  wide-open  arches  of  the  Eastern  sum- 
mer-house, he  sees  a  surrounding  islet  whose  arti- 
ficial rocks  are  covered  with  enormous  ferns  and  flow- 
ering tree-peonies ;  and  whose  grassy  slopes  are  made 
fragrant  by  the  sad  and  heavy  odor  of  banks  of  white 
tuberoses.  The  serial  bamboo  bridges  leading  to  it 
spring  in  graceful,  illuminated  curves  over  the  little 
lake,  whose  placid  surface  is  covered  with  white  lotus 
flowers,  though  here  and  there,  these  are  splotched  by 
great  masses  of  the  red  variety. 

Flickering  under  a  thousand  Chinese  lanterns  sport 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  2O$ 

iridescent  schools  of  goldfish,  dashing  through  the 
crystal  water  and  playing  about  the  green-stemmed 
blossoms.  The  surrounding  shores  are  clothed  with 
feather-like  woods  of  bamboo  and  thickets  of  flowering 
magnolias,  from  which  the  songs  of  Mongolian 
larks  and  myriads  of  Canton  thrushes,  mingle  with  the 
sweet  notes  of  the  rarer  nightingales,  and  the  soft  goo- 
ing  of  strolling  peacocks  with  expanded  gorgeous  tails. 

At  the  table  and  doing  the  honors  as  its  host,  is  His 
Excellency,  Li  Wong  Chieun,  in  full  mandarin  robes ; 
blazing  with  jewels  and  grand  with  peacock  feathers. 
Around  'his  burly  waist  is  bound  the  yellow  zone  indi- 
cating imperial  descent.  His  secretary,  standing  be- 
hind his  chair  of  state,  is  interpreting  for  him. 

The  soft,  sleepy,  Oriental  eyes  of  the  satrap  have 
the  calm  of  a  battle  already  won  as  he  gazes  at  Board- 
man,  who  is  thanking  him  for  the  safety  that  his  pres- 
ence brings  his  daughter;  and  his  thick,  sensual  red- 
betel-stained  lips  have  the  quiet  confidence  of  appetite 
about  to  be  appeased  as  he  looks  upon  Eira,  whose 
beauty  this  evening  seems  of  the  air  and  not  of  the 
earth,  whose  bright  eyes  shine  more  brilliantly  with 
hope  than  his  blue  diamonds.  Girlish  yet  womanly, 
her  radiant  mien  makes  her  a  very  goddess  of  joy  as 
she  extends  a  grateful  hand  to  the  Chinese  dignitary 
and  says :  "  God  bless  your  Excellency  for  journeying 
all  this  long  way  to  give  me  hope  of  life." 

For  even  now  the  noise  of  battle  down  Tien  Tsin  way 
rises  higher  on  the  quiet  evening  air. 

"  So  gladdee  Missee  Eira,"  murmurs  the  mandarin, 
in  pidgin  English.  "  So  gladdee — gladdee — heap 
gladdee !  "  And  entirely  outside  Chinese  etiquette,  the 
host  kisses  the  delicate  outstretched  hand.  With  a 
rosebud  flush  Eira  draws  her  fair  fingers  timidly  away, 
a  slightly  amazed  look  coming  on  her  face ;  the  Orien- 
tal's lips  seem  burning. 

Looking  carefully  on  for  his  very  life,  Passmere  ob- 
serves the  same  curious,  semi-torpid-  snake-like  glance 


206  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

in  the  mandarin's  eyes  that  had  made  Osuri  Katsuma's 
blood  boil  in  far-away  Hong  Kong;  and  the  heart  of 
this  man,  who  knows  Eastern  character,  sinks. 

A  moment  later  the  Chinese  Commissioner-High 
welcoming  Mrs.  Passmere  gives  her  a  favoring  glance ; 
for  that  lady,  in  ecstasy  at  her  Harold's  safety,  is  su- 
perbly gowned  in  one  of  her  imported  Parisian  robes, 
her  sculptured  shoulders  and  rounded  arms  gleaming 
in  snowy  magnificence. 

As  Flora  passes  to  a  seat  indicated  by  a  chin-chining 
servitor,  His  Excellency  first  notes  Imogene,  who  has 
stood  just  behind  her  sister-in-law.  Fairy-like  yet  al- 
most ghost-like,  the  girl's  dimpled  cheeks  are  color- 
less save  for  two  hectic  spots,  as  her  gray  eyes  sink 
before  the  mandarin's  placid  yet  admiring  gaze. 

Not  daring  to  differ  as  to  costume  from  the  other 
ladies,  the  ex-opium-smuggling-girl  is  in  a  light  frock 
of  floating  tulle  and  silver  lace  and  spangles,  which 
after  the  fashion  of  the  day,  permits  more  than  a 
glimpse  of  delicate  shoulders  and  exquisitely  propor- 
tioned arms  of  polished  ivory. 

"  So  gladdee,  Missee  Passmere ! "  murmurs  the 
mandarin  in  reflective  welcome. 

To  this,  Imogene,  after  attempting  speech  which 
fails  in  'her  chokinj  throat,  responds  by  a  shrinking 
courtesy,  and  with  still  downcast  though  fiery  eyes 
passes  to  her  chair  and  sinks  with  a  sigh  upon  it. 

After  a  few  words  of  welcome  in  mandarin  Chinese, 
and  even  a  lower  bow  to  Passmere  than  the  rest, 
which  is  responded  to  in  kind  by  the  Oriental 
adventurer,  His  Excellency  again  murmurs :  "  So 
gladdee ;  everybody  here  all  lightee !  "  and  his  tor- 
pid serpent  eyes  linger  upon  his  three  lady  guests 
as  if  Providence  had  been  more  bountiful  to  him 
than  he  -expected;  for  in  truth  this  Manchu  noble  of 
broad  Eastern  ideas  had  only  expected  one  sun — and 
finds  here  in  his  grasp  his  sun — and  two  exquisite 
moons. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  2O7 

Clapping  his  hands,  Chieun  signals  that  the  banquet 
proceed. 

It  is  a  feast  of  an  Oriental  Lucullus. 

The  greatest  delicacies  of  Chinese  cuisine — birds' 
nest  soup,  shark  fins  and  Peking  mushrooms  are  con- 
trasted with  dishes  of  more  European  flavor  and  de- 
sign, roast  chicken  and  turkey  a  I  Anglaise  and  larded 
quails ;  while  fruits  unlimited,  make  the  table  fragrant 
with  the  odors  of  pineapples,  carambolas  and  Eastern 
plums. 

The  rice  and  orange  wines  of  the  country  mingle 
with  Chateau  Y  quern  of  rare  vintage,  and  Lafitte  of 
1854.  Sparkling  Burgundy  and  foaming  champagne 
follow  them. 

The  feast  goes  rather  hurriedly  and  yet  quietly  on. 
For  with  a  host  who  says  little  and  that  little  has  to 
be  interpreted,  conversation  cannot  be  very  general. 

And  all  the  time  the  rumble  of  distant  battle  now 
faint,  now  louder,  adds  anxiety  to  the  faces  of 
his  guests  though  Chieun's  Manchu  countenance  is 
still  calm  and  strangely  content.  In  fact,  till  the 
coffee  is  on  the  table  and  cigars  are  lighted,  His  Ex- 
cellency, puffing  like  the  other  gentlemen  a  fine  Ha- 
vana, little  except  friendly  nods  pass  between  him  and 
Boardman. 

About  this  time  Arthur  notes  with  still  further  sink- 
ing of  the  heart,  that  receiving  a  few  whispered  words 
from  Chieun,  his  secretary  interprets :  "  Honorable 
Mr.  Boardman,  my  master  wishes  to  ask  you  if  your 
money  as  well  as  your  majestic  self  has  been  trans- 
ported safely  here.  Hearing  of  five  large  cases 
brought  by  pony-cart  with  you,  he  hopes  in  Peking 
you  may  have  changed  the  bulky  silver  into  equally 
valuable  yet  less  weighty  gold,  and  so  conveyed  your 
treasure  safely  with  you." 

"  Not  at  all,"  chuckles  Boardman.  "  Tell  His  Ex- 
cellency that  the  money  is  dead  safe.  I  planted  the 
one  million  silver  taels  in  the  British  legation, 


2o8  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

and  now  they  are  guarded  by  the  marines  who  went 
into  the  capital  just  before  I  left  it." 

As  this  is  explained  to  the  mandarin,  his  brows  con- 
tract slightly,  a  disappointed  look  despite  his  suave- 
ness  contorts  his  fat  face. 

"  By  Jove !  "  meditates  Arthur,  "  Chieun  expected 
the  money  here  as  well  as  the  girl.  Perhaps  he  will 
not  act  now ;  and  there  may  yet  be  hope."  Then  catch- 
ing in  Li  Wong's  eyes,  that  same  torpid,  yet  fiery 
glance,  Mr.  Passmere  shudders :  "  The  American's  sil- 
ver is  out  of  his  grasp  but  he  still  means  to  seize  the 
American's  daughter." 

With  this  the  scoundrel  meditates  hurriedly :  "  If  I 
could  escape  with  my  wife  and  sister,  this  would  be  all 
the  better  for  me.  It  would  add  to  the  fortune  coming 
to  Flora  after  her  uncle  and  his  offspring  have  passed 
away.  As  her  husband,  I  could  get  that  silver  from 
the  English  legation  unless  the  embassy  is  also  wiped 
out." 

Turning  his  face  away,  and  seating  himself  in  a 
little  corner  of  the  great  pagoda,  gazing  abstractedly 
upon  the  flashing  goldfishes  as  they  dash  through  the 
water  under  the  light  of  Chinese  lanterns,  he  goes  to 
wracking  his  devilish  brains  how  he  can  escape  with 
Flora  and  Imogene.  But  finally,  noticing  that 
gingal  men  are  posted  as  sentinels  about  the  gardens, 
and  remembering  the  thousand  Chinese  soldiers  and 
half-barbarous  Boxers  who  are  in  this  very  palace  with 
them,  he  with  a  moaning,  despairing  sigh,  goes  to  pray- 
ing to  God  to  save  his  abject  body — for  his  soul  he 
knows  there  is  no  hope. 

That  his  glance  is  not  upon  the  others  per- 
haps saves  him  a  pang.  Had  Arthur  looked  a  little 
longer  the  astute  adventurer  might  have  guessed  a 
little  more  and  been  more  horrified. 

The  feast,  which  according  to  Chinese  custom  is  a 
short  one,  is  drawing  to  a  close.  Most  of  the  servitors 
obeying  their  prince's  signal,  have  retired  kowtowing 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  209 

to  the  very  floor.  Flora  and  Eira,  radiant  in  their  re- 
lief and  happiness,  are  laughing  together.  The  Amer- 
ican girl  has  picked  up  a  big  bunch  of  flowering  lilies 
lying  in  front  of  her,  and  giving  them  to  the 
Chinese  mandarin  has  suggested :  "  Flora,  do  the  same 
to  our  host,  who  is  going  to  lead  us  to  life  and  liberty." 
For  Li  Wong  Chieun's  promises  of  protection  to 
Boardman  have  been  profuse. 

Actuated  by  gratitude,  Mrs.  Passmere  trips  to  the 
mandarin  and  decks  him  with  a  handful  of  white  jas- 
amine.  "  Now,  Imogene !  "  cry  both  the  ladies,  "  Your 
turn  next ! " 

On  this,  Miss  Passmere,  who  has  eaten  but  little  all 
this  night,  forcing  her  limbs  to  rise,  picks  up  haphaz- 
ard a  bunch  of  bright  red  lotus  flowers ;  courtesies 
falteringly  before  the  satrap  and  proffers  him  the  blos- 
soms. 

Then,  feeling  that  whatever  comes  to  the  oth- 
ers she  is  helpless  in  his  hands,  the  ex-opium-smug- 
gler-girl raises  for  one  moment  appealing  eyes  to  the 
master  of  her  fate.  Startled  by  the  satrap's  glance 
Imogene's  knees  shake  under  her,  and  her  face  which 
has  been  pallid  as  a  death  mask,  grows  crimson  as 
the  flowers  she  drops  in  the  lap  of  the  Chinese  potenate 
that  she  loathes. 

For  into  Li  Wong  Chieun's  crafty,  Oriental  mind 
has  flown :  "  Till  I  know  which  way  the  Empress 
Dowager  decrees  the  policy  of  China,  which  will  come 
to  me  by  runners  soon,  I  dare  not  raise  my  hand  against 
the  family  of  this  great  American ;  the  beauty  I  thirst 
for  is  until  that  time  beyond  my  grasp ;  but  this  shrink- 
ing snowy-shouldered,  graceful-limbed  criminal  crea- 
ture is  here.  For  one  day  she  was  a  slave  of  my 
harem.  She  can  be  recalled  at  my  will." 

This  has  been  the  word  of  his  eyes  to  Imogene's 
quick  occult  mind.  As  she  sinks  back  in  her  chair,  the 
fairy  kiosk  with  its  myriad  flowers  and  festal  decora- 
tiuas,  seems  as  crimson  to  her  fevered  eyes  as  did  that 


TANGLED  FLAGS. 

torture  room  in  the  yamen  of  the  Twuy-Chow  hills, 
where  she  had  cried :  "  Take  me  and  spare  me !  "  And 
the  low  hum  of  the  distant  battle,  mingled  with  the 
near-by  screaming  of  the  Chinese  riddles  and  some  goo- 
ing  of  peacocks,  seem  to  make  Imogene  Passmere 
crazy,  her  shame  and  despair  are  so  unutterable. 

In  her  abasement,  she  scarce  notes  that  now  a  half- 
naked  Chinese  runner  covered  with  the  dust  of  the 
roads,  and  reeking  with  the  perspiration  of  terri-ble  and 
sustained  speed  this  hot  and  sultry  night,  is  brought  in 
by  some  officers.  On  his  knees  the  coolie  presents  to 
the  High- War-Commissioner  a  yellow  scroll.  Reading 
this,  Chieun's  face  grows  triumphant. 

He  whispers  some  words  to  his  secretary  and  this 
official  interprets:  "The  great  mandarin  has  business 
of  much  moment,  so  he  begs  to  excuse  himself."  Ris- 
ing, the  mandarin,  aparently  affable  from  the  news 
that  has  been  brought  him,  receives  his  guests  salutes 
and  with  many  suave  smiles  withdraws;  either  from 
carelessness  or  design  permitting  the  yellow  message 
to  flutter  down  upon  the  lacquered  floor  almost  at 
Passmere's  feet. 

"Arthur,  you  can  decipher  Chinese.  What  the  devil 
does  that  document  say  ?  "  whispers  Joel,  eagerly ;  and 
he,  Eira  and  Flora  gather  anxiously  about  the  young 
man,  who,  picking  up  and  examining  the  document, 
has  now  a  perturbed  face. 

"  It  is  simply  this :  "  answers  Passmere,  "  and  if  true 
places  us  more  at  the  mercy  of  the  mandarin  than  ever. 
I'll  put  the  Chinese  metaphor  into  commonplace  Eng- 
lish for  you.  It  is  dated  this  day,  the  I3th  of  July,  and 
is  from  General  Mah,  commanding  in  the  native  city 
of  Tien  Tsin.  It  says :  'By  the  blessings  of  our  ances- 
tors, though  attacked  to-day  by  all  the  outside  barbar- 
ians, Russians,  Japanese,  French,  English,  Germans, 
Americans ' " 

"  Americans !    Good  Lord  !  "  gasps  Boardman. 

"  We  have  defeated  the  foreign  devils  and  their 


TANGLED 

bodies  lie  strewed  along  the  canal  in  front  of  our 
walls,"  continues  Arthur.  "The  troops  making  the 
attack  are  the  British-Indian  regiments  and  marines ; 
two  or  three  Japanese  brigades  under  Fukushina,  two 
columns  of  Russians,  a  few  hundred  devil-Germans, 
a  lot  of  East  Indian  Sikhs  and  an  American  regiment, 
that  landed  yesterday  our  spies  tell  us,  from  Manila. 
The  Japanese  and  the  Americans  suffered  most  heav- 
ily, thousands  of  them  having  been  destroyed  by-  our 
gingal  men,  the  American  devils  by  their  foolish  bra- 
vado being  caught  in  front  of  the  canal  and  slaughtered 
prodigiously.  Their  battle-flag  went  down  under  fire 
many  times.  Spies  say  their  general  was  slain.  I  send 
you  one  of  their  signs,  picked  up  on  many  floating  bod- 
ies in  the  canal."  Here  Passmere  cries :  "  What's  that 
on  the  table?  Something  came  with  the  dispatch!" 
He  picks  up  an  embroidered  military  collar — It  bears 
"9th  U.  S.  INFANTRY." 

"  The  Ninth  Infantry !  Jim's  regiment !  "  screams 
Eira.  Then  the  girl's  eyes  grow  large  and  scintil- 
late with  horror.  She  moans :  "  Jim !  my  Jim  is 
over  there  fighting  to  save  me ;  perhaps  dying  to  save 
me !  My  Heaven,  shall  I  be  his  widow  before  I  am  his 
wife." 

There  is  a  kind  of  reproach  in  her  voice  that 
makes  her  father's  lips  twitch.  He  says,  huskily: 
"  Don't  let  your  mind  get  morbid,  daughter ;  your 
daddy  stood  at  Antietam  and  Gettysburg,  and  encoun- 
tered the  best  soldiers  of  Lee  and  Jackson  and  he  still 
lives.  Jim  '11  come  up  smiling." 

But  here  there  is  a  louder  explosion  from  the  distant 
city,  and  Eira,  who  is  sobbing  now,  falters: 

"  Only  eight  miles  away  my  Jim  perhaps  is  dying !  " 

Of  course  this  ends  festivity,  Boardman  sadly  takes 
his  daughter  from  the  kiosk  to  their  own  compound, 
Flora  as  they  follow,  pressing  a  clinging  hand  in  lov- 
ing confidence  on  her  husband's  arm. 

Some  few  paces  in  the  rear  Miss  Passmere  walks  in 


212  TANGLED 

a  dazed  melancholy.  She  has  scarce  noted  the  reading 
of  the  yellow  scroll ;  all  she  knows  is  that,  if  it  is  true, 
she  is  still  more  abjectly  in  Chieun's  power. 

They  near  the  gate  of  their  compound.  Beside 
it  the  Chinese  secretary  is  bowing  them  out  with 
genuflexions  that  reach  the  very  ground.  Mr.  and 
Miss  Boardman,  and  Passmere  and  his  wife  pass 
through  the  portals,  and  go  upon  their  way. 

Barring  Imogene's  exit,  the  interpreter  stands.  Slow- 
ly he  lets  fall  a  handful  of  bright  red  rose  leaves  at  her 
feet — in  his  hand  he  extends  a  crimson  silken  veil-like 
kimona.  Knowing  the  dread  significance  of  the  token,* 
Imogene  starts  back,  her  face  ashen  and  unearthly, 
though  her  hand  does  not  refuse  the  symbol. 

"  Be  ready,  harem  slave,"  commands  the  official,  in 
low,  but  coercive  voice,  "  when  in  ten  minutes  I  tap 
upon  your  door  to  conduct  you  to  the  feet  of  your 
master,  who  does  you  honor." 

To  this  she  answers  nothing,  but  her  head  droops  in 
sickening  humiliation. 

"  Step  upon  the  rose  leaves  to  show  that  you  knock 
your  head  upon  the  floor  in  obedience  to  the  great  and 
august  mandarin  of  the  red  button,  Li  Wong  Ohieun," 
whispers  the  secretary  authoritatively. 

Without  a  word  Miss  Passmere  slowly  gathers  her 
skirts  in  her  hand,  raising  them  slightly  to  make  evi- 
dent her  obedience.  Then  her  white  high-heeled  Pa- 
risian slippers  crush  the  red  flowers  that  stain  their 
satin  as  she  staggers  through  the  portal. 

In  a  benumbed,  dazed  way  she  gazes  about.  To  her- 
self she  sobs :  "  Jim- — my  Jim !  " 

Passmere  and  Boardman  have  gone  to  the  latter's 
room  in  the  gentlemen's  pavilion,  where  they  are  prob- 
ably discussing  eagerly  at  length  the  strange  news  that 


*  Quite  generally  throughout  the  East,  especially  in  some 
parts  of  China,  red  is  the  color  designating  ladies  of  pleasure. 
Though  in  Japan  by  curious  contrast  it  is  the  sign  of  mar- 
riage.— Ed. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  213 

has  come  to  them  from  the  outside  world.  The  sound 
of  Flora's  and  Eira's  voices  are  heard  in  Miss  Board- 
man's  chamber. 

The  long  corridor  of  the  ladies'  pavilion  is  lighted 
by  a  single  lamp.  Calling  Lie-lie  from  her  chamber 
Imogene  commands  the  maid  in  sternly  'husky 
tones  to  give  her  attention  to  the  other  ladies  and  not 
to  come  near  her  till  the  morning.  Miss  Passmere's 
room  is  nearest  to  the  end  of  the  passage  which  abuts 
upon  the  wall  that  divides  their  compound  from  that 
of  their  Chinese  host. 

In  this  wall,  at  the  end  of  the  hall,  is  a  small  but 
massive  teak  door  which  has  to  this  time  always  been 
locked  and  barred. 

Ten  minutes  after,  this  quietly  opens  from  the  outer 
side  and  the  Chinese  secretary  glides  along  the  passage 
with  noiseless  step  to  Imogene's  portal  upon  which  his 
fingers  tap  remorselessly  but  almost  noiselessly. 

At  his  summons  a  shrinking  girl,  whose  light  yet 
perfect  form  is  scarce  veiled  by  a  clinging  red  kimona, 
confronts  him.  He  silently  places  his  strong  grasp 
upon  a  bare  rounded  arm  that  quivers  in  his  clutch, 
and  leads  her  tottering  through  the  massive  portal 
which  divides  the  compounds. 

As  he  closes  and  bolts  the  door  behind  him,  the 
wretched  one  stricken  with  the  vile  fate  she  meant  for 
another  and  purer  spirit,  moans  to  herself:  "This  is 
my  vengeance." 

Then  the  coercive  clasp  is  on  her  white  arm  again ; 
and  following  the  guiding  of  a  relentless  hand,  Imo- 
gene staggers  along  a  short  dark  passage  till  she  stands 
before  a  purple-curtained  arch,  through  which  escaping 
rays  of  light  show  that  within  is  a  brilliantly  lighted 
apartment. 

"  You  are  in  the  harem  of  your  master.  You  know 
its  rule." 

"  God  of  despair,  I  do !  "  is  the  shuddering  whisper. 

"  Then  go  in !  "  orders  the  secretary,  shortly. 


214  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

With  a  low,  gasping  sigh  Imogene  Passmere  fronts 
the  draperies  of  the  arch  and  parts  them;  the  veil-like 
kimona  sinks  away  from  her  shining  shoulders,  which 
for  one  moment  gleam  white  as  ivory,  then  glow  red  as 
deep-sea  coral  in  unutterable  shame  as  she  falters  in- 
ward; and  the  purple  curtains  fall  fold  on  fold  behind 
her. 

Perhaps  an  hour  after  this,  it  being  but  little  after 
ten  o'clock,  Mrs.  Passmere  coming  from  Eira's  cham- 
ber, wishing  to  consult  her  dictatorial  sister-in-law 
about  something  connected  with  Harold's  menage, 
carelessly  raps  upon  Imogene's  portal.  Not  finding  her 
knock  answered,  Flora,  the  chamber  being  empty, 
passes  on  to  the  little  dressing-room  which  opens  im- 
mediately from  it.  She  knows  her  husband  will  be 
engaged  for  some  time  drinking  whiskey  and  soda  with 
the  American,  and  discussing  the  message  which  has 
come  this  night.  So  she  tosses  her  pretty  self  upon  a 
lounge,  and  stretching  out  her  little  feet,  reclines,  wait- 
ing for  Imogene. 

Having  been  put  in  a  neglige  by  Lie-lie,  Flora  is 
very  comfortable ;  the  night  being  hot  and  languid ; 
and  the  banquet  having  been  ample,  Mr.  Passmere's 
bride  floats  away  into  a  wife's  last  happy  slumber. 

From  this  she  is  awakened  by  a  big  yet  distant  ex- 
plosion. It  is  that  of  a  magazine  near  the  pagoda-fort 
at  far-away  Tien  Tsin.  ,  Tremblingly  listening  for  fur- 
ther noise  of  war,  at  first  Mrs.  Passmere  thinks  she  is 
in  an  awful  dream,  and  then  begins  to  shiver  and  to 
believe  she  is  in  hell. 

From  Miss  Passmere's  bedroom,  which  is  still  dark, 
she  hears  her  husband  speaking  hoarsely  and  savagely : 
"  You  cursed  Chinese  wanton !  You  red-coated  Man- 
chu-jade !  "  Then  some  low,  sobbing  Chinese  words 
from  Imogene,  and  next  Arthur's  command :  "  Speak 
English,  you  damned  immodest  Jezebel.  Would  you 
have  some  wandering  Mongolian  servant  hear  your 
monstrous  shame;  that  you  are  one  of  the  women  of 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  215 

Chieun's  harem  ?    That  is  where  you  came  from.    Bad 
as  I  am ;  you,  my  sister,  are  more  debased  than  I." 

To  this  in  answer,  Imogene's  voice  comes,  anguished 
and  pleading:  "Arthur!  it  was  to  save  your  life  as 
well  as  mine.  What  mattered  another  pang — I  had 
been  the  satrap's  sacrifice  before ! " 

"  Before  !  God's  mercy ;  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  shud- 
ders Passmere.  Villain  as  he  is  his  voice  is  thick  with 
horror. 

"Don't  you  gness?"  sneers  his  sister,  "What  got 
us  off  so  lightly  from  that  Chinese  devil  at  Twuy- 
Chow  ? " 

"  Oh,  my  Heaven  !  " 

"  Did  you  think  it  was  your  paltry  fine  released  us 
opium  smugglers?  "  jeers  the  girl.  Then  to  her  brother 
whom  her  revealing  has  petrified,  Imogene  goes  on 
desperately :  "  Would  you  have  the  Chinese  monster 
kill  us  too?  Know  that  this  is  our  salvation.  Did  we 
die,"  she  sneers,  "  of  what  use  would  be  the  fortune  of 
the  slain  American  and  his  accursed  daughter,  who 
degraded  as  I  am  shall  perish  of  shame  and  despair  to- 
morrow." 

"  To-morrow  ?    Are  you  sure  ?  " 

"  Yes !  in  Chieun'a  harem  I  have  learned  coolie  run- 
ners have  just  arrived  from  Peking — that  govern- 
ment troops  now  assist  in  the  attack  upon  all  the 
legations  of  the  outside  world.  The  Empress  has  gone 
anti-foreign  devil :  Think  what  it  means  to  us  to  es- 
cape! In  Europe,  away  from  here,  for  our  plotting 
will  come  the  Yankee's  many  millions,  through  your 
wife,  his  niece,  whose  fortune  we  have  confiscated ; 
the  pretty  Flora,  whose  doting  love  has  made  her  your 
slave — and  mine  also." 

"  Much  good  that  will  do  us  now,"  sighs  Arthur 
doggedly. 

"  Why  not  ?  Flora  is  as  wax !  Didn't  I  in  Hong 
Kong  force  her  to  surrender  Eira's  letter  to  the  Jap- 
anese, that  might  have  saved  the  woman  I  hate  ?  " 


2l6  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Till  this  moment  Flora  Passmere  has  believed  she  is 
in  a  nightmare,  or  insane.  Now  the  recollection  of 
Katstima's  letter  makes  her  know  she  is  hearing  sick- 
ening truth,  and  facts  awful  beyond  belief.  Suddenly 
a  wife's  horror  leaves  her  for  a  mother's  despair. 

"Yes,  if  we  escape  Chieun's  massacre?"  jeers  Ar- 
thur. "  But  don't  guess  the  Chinese  monster  means 
any  of  us  to  escape.  With  all  your  fawning  on  the 
Mongol  satrap  you  will  die  as  I  do.  Dead  men  tell  no 
tales;  dead  women  also!  I  feel  the  breath  of  mas- 
sacre upon  me  now."  To  this  the  wretch  in  a  kind  of 
posthumous  repentance  mutters :  "  Poor  Flora  and  her 
little  boy." 

"  Of  course  Flora's  life  is  necessary  to  us ;  but  if  the 
Boxers  gobble  up  the  brat,  Harold,  'twill  be  for  our 
benefit  should  we  live,"  snarls  his  sister;  then  suddenly 
cries:  "  Didn't  you  hear  a  noise?  " 

"  No,  it  is  your  conscience,  if  you  have  any,"  sneers 
the  man. 

And  the  two  in  their  despair  begin  to  quarrel,  Imo- 
gene  reviling  her  brother  for  having  for  the  sake  of 
mighty  fortune  contemplated  the  murder  of  the  Amer- 
ican and  the  destruction  of  his  daughter;  and  Arthur 
cursing  his  sister  because  by  her  vengeful  nature  she 
would  not  let  him  forego  the  plan  from  which  he  had 
been  well-nigh  frightened. 

In  this  discussion  they  give  details  that  make  the 
frantic  Flora  know  she  has  taken  in  a  wife's  loving 
arms  a  devil  for  a  husband. 

Finally  the  two  begin  to  bemoan  each  other's  sad 
fate. 

The  distant  thump  of  combat  has  risen  louder  than 
before;  a  faint  glow  enters  the  room  to  show  a  few 
miles  away  the  destruction  of  a  blazing  and  looted 
city. 

"  By  the  God  of  battles,  if  the  foreign  troops  break 
through  we  may  yet  be  saved ! "  exclaims  Arthur 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  217 

hoarsely.  And  the  two  run  out  into  the  garden  leav- 
ing a  half- fainting  woman  shuddering: 

"  My  God !  the  'husband  that  I  loved  worse  than 
a  murderer! " 

Then  she  half  screams :  "  Harold !  "  and  Flora 
Passmere  is  no  more  the  shrinking  thing  that  had  once 
drooped  her  eyes  before  Imogene's  frown.  She  says 
desperately:  "My  child!  Chieun  will  massacre  all! 
Save  Harold  I  must !  But  how  ? — how? — HOW  ?  " 

Beating  her  head  with  her  frenzied  hand  she  hurries 
along  the  passageway.  The  low  distant  noise  and  the 
faint  glow  of  far  away  conflagration  tell  her  frantic 
brain  that  an  army  of  brave  men  are  battling  with  bar- 
barians but  seven  miles  away ;  she  mutters,  "  How  to 
get  Harold  to  them  ?  "  Her  face  becomes  inspired  with 
a  mother's  love.  She  runs  into  her  chamber  and  finds 
Lie-lie  watchful  and  alert. 

"  Too  much  noise  to  sleep !  "  mutters  the  Chinese 
girl  in  a  frightened  way,  as  Mrs.  Passmere  begs: 
"  Help  me  Lie.  I  was  good  to  you ;  aid  me  to  save  my 
boy;  assist  me  to  get " 

"To  the  foreign  devils'  army?"  asks  the  Mongo- 
lian maid ;  adding  sententiously :  '  This  place  no 
good,  me  hear  servants  whisper.  Li  Wong  Chieun 
bad  man." 

"  Yes !  Yes !  Let  me  take  my  boy !  " 

"No  do  that,  Missee;  only  go  yourself.  Boy's  voice 
too  loud.  In  night  Boxer  men  hear  him." 

"  Leave  Harold  behind  me !  "  shudders  the  mother. 

"Yes!  if  no  want  him  throat  cut.  You  get  for- 
eign devil  soldier  here. — Come  early  in  morning — 
time  enough !  "  whispers  the  Chinese  girl.  As  she 
speaks  she  is  hurriedly  throwing  out  some  native  gar- 
ments. 

Looking  at  her,  Flora  exclaims:  "You  mean  to 
make  me  like  a  China  woman  ?  " 

"  Yes !  only  chance !  Me  know  Tien  Tsin  road.  No 
live  get  through  without  likee  China  girl.  You  sabe 


2l8  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

little  door  in  compound  wall.  Right  through  the 
white  pagoda !  Come !  " 

So,  Flora,  hurriedly  made  to  look  like  a  Mongol  by 
the  amah's  deft  arts  and  Indian  ink,  disguised  in 
Lie-lie's  garments,  sneaks  with  her  guide  through 
the  shrubbery  of  the  garden  and  passes  out  of  a  little 
unused  gate  of  the  palace  wall.  This  in  places  is 
manned  by  Chinese  soldiers  who  are  jabbering  over 
some  news  brought  in  by  runners  and  gazing  at  the 
weird  glow  down  Tien  Tsin  way. 

As  she  emerges  from  the  opening  a  hand  is  laid 
upon  her  shoulder.  Flora  utters  a  low,  gasping  cry. 
Looking  up  she  recognizes  the  ever-smiling  Lum  Kee, 
and  cowering  from  him  moans :  "  Lost !  " 

But  the  Chinese  servant  whispers :  "  Come  quiet !  " 
adding:  "  Me  go  get  Melicans  to  catchee-Missee  Eira. 
Her  father  no  good — kick  too  much — too  heavy  foot; 
but  Melican  girl's  hand  light  as  poppy  leaves. — Lum 
Kee  save  her." 

"  So,  into  the  gloom  of  night,  accompanied  by  a 
trembling  Chinese  girl,  and  led  by  a  grinning  coolie 
whom  she  fears,  this  delicate  woman  who  had  trembled 
at  the  fear  of  a  jealous  husband  goes  out  to  dare  bar- 
barous death  and  Chinese  outrage ;  not  to  fly  from  bat- 
tle, but  to  seek  it  by  the  light  of  a  distant  blazing  city 
surrounded  by  struggling  armies :  to  endure  the  hid- 
eous dangers  of  murderous  coolies  and  blood-inspired 
Boxers — actuated  by  the  noblest  instinct  of  the  human 
mind,  a  mother's  love ! 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE  WOMAN  AT  THE  JAPANESE  OUTPOST. 

The  world  is  thundering  at  the  Tien  Tsin  gate !  The 
tangled  battle-flags  of  the  great  nations  of  this  earth 
are  drooping  before  the  Chinese  wall. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  219 

"Jim!" 

"Osuri!" 

The  two  grip  hands  as  Ingraham  whispers  what  has 
been  their  cadet  prayer :  "  In  the  same  line  of  battle, 
thank  God!" 

"  And  a  tough  line  of  battle,  too !  "  laughs  the  Jap- 
anese, grimly ;  his  voice  drowned  by  the  rumble  of  big 
guns,  the  rattle  of  rifles  and  the  sharp  impact  of  rapid- 
fire  and  gingal  bullets. 

Before  them  is  the  Chinese  native  city,  surrounded 
by  a  smooth  stone  wall  thirty  feet  high  and  impervious 
to  aught  save  the  heaviest  siege  artillery.  Some  hun- 
dred yards  in  its  front  is  a  canal,  deep,  sluggish  yet 
impassable;  though  this  is  still  shrouded  from  their 
eyes  by  ancestral  tombs  and  by  native  houses. 

Before  it,  in  strange  jumble  are  gathered  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  many  lands ;  each,  from  Tommy  Atkins 
to  Cossack  of  the  Don,  from  Punjab  Sikh  to  little  Jap- 
anese infantry  soldier,  from  British  bluejacket  and 
American  marine  to  German  Kaiser's  man,  anxious  to 
prove  his  country  the  bravest,  its  stamina  for  blood  the 
strongest,  its  fighting  power  the  greatest.  Yet  every 
European  eye  is  on  the  little  yellow  soldiers  of  Dai- 
Nippon,  to  note  their  devoir  on  a  battle-field  civilized 
by  more  murderous  death  than  barbarism  can  invent. 

Therefore,  before  this  town  are  being  done  deeds  of 
"  deering-do  "  worthy  of  crusading  knights  and  Pala- 
dins, or  Caesar's  own  Tenth  Legion,  to  show  that  modern 
Japanese  chivalry  is  as  undaunted,  its  lust  for  blood  as 
fine  as  that  of  heroes  of  ancient  legend  or  mystic  fable. 

Faraway,  on  the  east  and  north  fourteen  companies 
of  Russian  infantry,  two  batteries  and  a  sotina  of  Cos- 
sacks, supported  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  Kaiser 
Wilhelm's  men,  are  attacking  the  Marine  Barracks  and 
the  Pagoda  Fort,  and  blocked  by  the  deep  river  making 
very  bad  work  of  it,  though  Cossack  of  the  Don  and 
Cossack  of  the  Ukrane,  attempting  to  swim  the  stream 
under  the  Chinese  fire,  drown  in  the  bloody  water. 


220  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Towards  the  south  and  west  two  thousand  stout 
Japanese  infantry  under  Fukushina,  seven  or  eight 
hundred  English  bluejackets  and  fusileers,  together 
with  turbaned  Sikhs  and  flanked  by  the  French  and 
American  marines  and  two  battalions  of  the  Ninth  U. 
S.  Infantry  just  from  the  Philippines  are  about  to  at- 
tempt the  impossible. 

They  have  already  rushed  the  Hai-Kaiang  arsenal 
and  its  mud  wall,  and  lined  it  with  English  naval  guns 
from  the  Terrible  and  Centurion. 

From  this  a  narrow  causeway  leads  straight  over 
swampy  ground  to  the  main  gate  of  the  native  city  one 
long  mile  away. 

With  hoarse  shouts,  the  gallant  Japanese  in  column 
formation  have  flashed  along  this  narrow  bullet 
scourged  road,  careless  of  dead  and  dying  men,  and 
now  hold  some  clumps  of  houses  nearest  the  embattled 
gate. 

To  their  right  are  the  Welsh  fusileers  and  English 
marines.  Flanking  them  is  the  American  regiment  who 
having  struggled  through  the  rice  swamps  under  con- 
tinuous fire,  now  lie  behind  a  long  mud  dyke  awaiting 
the  signal  for  the  last  mad  rush. 

Beside  its  colors  stands  their  grim  old  colonel  who 
had  fought  in  the  war  of  the  Great  Rebellion  and  land- 
ed last  night  on  Chinese  soil,  to  die  this  day  before  the 
Chinese  dragoon ;  near  him  is  a  Minnesota  boy  who 
lies  gasping  out  "  Mother  "  with  each  sighing  bloody 
breath. 

Careless  of  the  Chinese  artillery  fire  which  comes 
from  the  walls  of  the  main  town  and  pattering  ma- 
chine slugs  from  the  houses  just  in  front  of  them,  the 
men  are  making  their  final  preparations. 

To  them  has  journeyed,  under  a  pitiless  hail 
of  bullets,  the  Japanese  staff  captain  bearing  to  the 
American  commander  word  from  Fukushina.  His 
uniform,  that  this  morning  had  been  as  is  the  custom 
in  the  Mikado's  service,  neat,  almost  immaculate,  is 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  22 1 

stained  by  the  mud  and  water  of  the  intervening  rice 
swamps. 

Lying  behind  the  dyke  beside  them,  is  a  grizzled  ser- 
geant who  as  a  boy  has  fought  on  Virginia  battle-fields 
and  as  a  man  has  encountered  Apaches  on  the  plains. 

Inspecting  the  long  stone  wall  of  the  native  city,  im- 
possible to  escalade;  and  the  as  yet  unseen  canal,  he 
mutters:  "  If  I  can't  smell  water  ahead  of  us,  McCor- 
mick  of  the  Ninth  hasn't  got  the  nose  of  a  government 
mule.  Begob,  we'll  have  to  be  ducks  as  well  as  aigles, 
boys,  to  catch  John  Chinaman  to-day." 

''  Do  you  think  we  wont  be  able  to  get  at  them?  " 
asks  Ingraham  savagely. 

"  Keep  down !  "  cautions  the  Japanese,  "  Don't 
throw  your  life  away.  Though  the  English  shells  are 
making  that  wall  a  shambles,  the  Chinese  fire  is 
mighty  well  sustained  and  accurate.  By  old  Riu-Jin, 
they  are  using  some  of  old  Boardman's  rapid-fires !  I 
recognize  their  peculiar  snap." 

"  For  God's  sake  don't  mention  him ! " 

Something  in  his  chum's  haggard  eyes  makes  Kat- 
suma  start.  He  asks  shortly:  "Jim!  what  is  in  your 
face?" 

"  Death  and  vengeance !  I  have  naught  to  live  for 
now." 

"  Naught  to  live  for  ?  It  is  /  who  should  seek  death. 
What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Eira  Boardman !  Don't  you  know  she  is  in — in 
Peking,  dead  with  the  massacred  legations  ?  "  Then 
the  strong  man  half  sobs :  "  You  loved  her  also ;  help 
me  to  avenge  her." 

At  these  dread  words  Osuri  Katsuma,  turning  away, 
is  the  only  Japanese  who  trembles  this  day  before  the 
Tien  Tsin  wall.  An  ineffable'  kind  of  anguish  wells  up  in 
his  dark  eyes.  He  shudders :  "  Itai,  that  hurts !  " 
then  bursts  forth:  "  Izanagi!  God  of  our  gods!  Why 
did  not  she  let  me  know?  " 

"  Yes !  why  didn't  you  warn  and  save  her  ?  "  sighs 


222  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

the  American,  an  awful  reproach  in  his  voice.    "  It  was 
your  promise:  I  was  fighting  in  the  Luzon  swamps." 

"  She  never  wrote  me." 

"  Impossible !  My  darling's  letter,  now  on  my  heart, 
said  she  had  informed  you  at  Tokio." 

"  Then  it  was  never  delivered,"  falters  Osuri. 
"  There  is  something  deeper  in  this  affair  than  either 
of  us  know,"  and  as  if  he  cannot  believe,  gasps :  "  Oh, 
Jim,  can  it  be  that  the  bright  goddess  has  passed  from 
earth?" 

"  Yes  !  only  vengeance  now !  "  mutters  the  Ameri- 
can. "  Look  on  the  men's  eyes.  There  are  others  that 
hunger  like  me  for  Chinese  blood." 

"  For  some  newspaper  fiend  in  Shanghai  has  in- 
vented the  story  that  the  men  and  children  of  the  em- 
bassies of  the  oatside  world  have  been  done  to  death 
in  Peking,  and  with  them  have  passed  away  in  cruel 
torture  and  unspeakable  degradation  the  delicate  la- 
dies of  Legation  Street.  'Tis  but  a  newspaper  lie,  but 
jt  has  brought  despair  into  many  faces  this  burning 
day,  and  put  such  deviltry  into  soldiers'  hearts  that  un- 
fortunate Chinese  holding  up  hands  for  the  mercy  of 
combat,  receive  no  quarter  from  Christian  troops." 

Under  a  dropping  fire  from  houses  that  flank  and 
enfilade  them  the  men  are  growing  desperate.  A  sigh  of 
relief  runs  through  the  dogged  reclining  ranks  as 
their  colonel  springs  up. 

In  the  diverging  plans  of  numerous  commanders, 
the  allied  force  having  no  generalissimo,  this  ground 
has  not  been  properly  reconnoitered,  the  Chinese  hav- 
ing occupied  it  until  the  quick  rush  by  the  gray  light  of 
the  morning  had  given  the  allies  the  Hai-Kaiang  ar- 
senal. 

"  There  is  water  in  front  of  us,  I  fear,  Colonel !  " 
remarks  the  senior  major,  saluting. 

"  Yes !  "  replies  his  commander,  tersely.  "  But  we 
must  go  on.  The  fire  from  those  houses  must  be 
quelled." 


FLAGS.  223 

Hardly  waiting  for  the  word,  Jim  Ingraham  has 
sprung  to  the  top  of  the  mud  dyke,  this  being  the  only 
path  to  the  clustering  houses  that  scarce  a  hundred 
yards  away  are  spitting  death  into  them.  But  Osuri 
is  just  behind  him  and  he  is  no  quicker  than  the 
regiment;  as  the  Ninth  makes  that  fatal  rush  which 
takes  them  up  not  to  their  objective,  but  to  a 
deep,  impassable,  fordless  canal.  Upon  its  other  side 
each  unassaultable  dwelling  is  a  fortress;  from  some 
sandbag  batteries  across  its  waters,  Boardman's  ma- 
chine guns,  manufactured  in  Connecticut,  are  striking 
down  American  troops.  The  shrapnel  from  the  walls 
of  the  city  comes  tearing  through  them ;  gingal  balls 
and  rapid-fire  slugs  fill  the  hot  sultry  air  with  slaugh- 
ter. 

The  flag  that  had  waved  on  Virginia  battle-fields 
drops  to  the  earth  over  a  dying  color-sergeant.  The 
colonel  seizes  it,  holds  it  up  and  cries  hal f -laughingly : 
"  I  am  all  right !  "  and  falls  mortally  wounded  upon  his 
colors.  But  other  hands  seize  them  from  the  veteran's 
fainting  grasp.  No  American  flag  must  go  down  in 
sight  of  the  battling  nations  of  the  world.  So  dropping 
behind  the  dyke,  the  old  Ninth  Infantry  line  the  side  of 
the  impassable  canal  and  hold  it ;  but  can  go  no  further. 

"  I  told  you  we'd  have  to  be  ducks  as  well  as  aigles," 
mutters  Sergeant  McCormick.  "  Shoot  straight,  boys ! 
we've  got  to  stay  here  and  die  here  as  we  cannot  go 
anywhere  else  to  die  in  safety." 

The  sergeant  is  right !  They  stay  there,  they  shoot 
there,  they  die  there  all  this  burning  day.  They  cannot 
go  forward,  they  wont  go  back. 

But  now  ammunition  is  growing  short.  Young 
Lawton,  staggering  through  a  hail  of  bullets  has  got 
message  to  the  English  commander.  Three  Sikhs  with 
three  mules  attempt  to  take  it  to  them  down  the  cause- 
way scourged  by  the  Chinese  fire.  First  a  mule  drops, 
but  the  tall,  gaunt-featured,  turbanecl  panthans  stride 
on.  Then  a  turban  goes  down;  then  another  turban; 


224  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

and  the  third  turban  imperturbably  taking  the  bridle  of 
the  other  mule  leads  the  two  forward  down  Death's 
causeway  until  he  dies;  and  then  the  mules  are  dead 
and — God's  mercy,  no  ammunition  ! 

Next  a  bull-headed  Britisher  from  the  south  of  Eng- 
land, a  non-commissioned  officer  of  the  Wei-hai-wei 
regiment,  swings  through  the  Taku  gate  of  the  Hai- 
Kaiang  arsenal  and  comes  out  upon  the  road  leading 
an  ammunition  mule.  He  is  followed  by  a  private 
leading  another  mule.  The  last  man's  legs  go  out 
from  under  him,  and  the  Englishman  seeing  speed  is 
his  only  chance,  jumps  on  his  ammunition  laden  ani- 
mal and  dashes  along  the  causeway  amid  the  roar  of 
shell  and  bullets. 

Some  cheer  him,  but  most  of  the  Ninth  shoot 
close  and  straight  to  quell  by  their  fire — the 
Chinese  volleys.  Twice  the  gallant  fellow  is  hit, 
yet  still  he  contrives  to  get  ahead ;  then  he  falls,  but 
the  mule  only  some  few  paces  from  the  firing-line  stag- 
gers and  drops  his  ammunition  almost  into  the  hands 
of  the  men  behind  the  dyke — but  this  is  by  no  means 
cartridges  enough  to  save  the  regiment. 

All  this  day  Jim  Ingraham  has  fought  stubbornly, 
but  only  for  vengeance.  What  can  victory  give 
to  him?  To  the  men  beside  him  honor  may  come 
with  achievement,  he  with  a  blank  life  before 
him  wants  nothing  save  the  blood  of  the  race 
who  have  bereft  him.  In  the  red  sky  of  battle  above 
the  Chinese  fortifications  his  anguished  eye  sees  the 
blazing  Peking  legations  and  the  sweetheart  that  he 
loves,  dying  in  torture  and  despair. 

He  crawls  hastily  to  the  commanding  officer  and, 
saluting  says :  "  I  volunteer  for  ammunition,  sir !  " 
Receiving  permission  for  fatal  service,  he  starts  dog- 
gedly across  the  bullet-scourged  swamp,  taking  no 
cover  of  dykes  or  fringing  tombs.  After  him  the  Jap- 
anese, who  being  unattached  is  a  free  agent,  springs. 
Osuri  is  not  ten  feet  behind  Jim  Ingraham,  as  the  lat- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  22$ 

ter  reels  and  falls.  A  second  later  the  American  is 
borne  back  under  the  sheltering  dyke  by  the  warrior 
from  Dai-Nippon. 

"  It  is  but  a  bullet  through  the  arm,"  remarks  the  at- 
tendant surgeon,  as  he  uses  a  first-aid  bandage.  "  No 
bone  is  broken." 

"  No !  but  his  heart  is,"  sighs  the  Japanese. 

Then  the  man  of  science  comments :  "  This  weird 
delirium  is  mighty  curious.  It  must  be  the  infernal 
heat."  For  the  wounded  lieutenant  is  raving  of  mas- 
sacre more  awful  even  than  that  which  is  around  them, 
and  horrors  more  sickening  than  any  battle  of  men. 

The  water  in  the  canteens  has  run  low,  but  enough 
drops  are  gathered  to  moisten  the  sufferer's  lips.  Un- 
der this  blazing  sun  a  man  so  stricken  will  scarce  last 
out  this  burning  day.  Already  the  flies,  scenting  their 
prey,  have  lighted  upon  the  crimson  splash  which 
stains  the  khaki  brown. 

"  With  your  permission,"  Osuri  says  to  the  lieuten- 
ant-colonel, "  I  will  try  and  take  Ingraham  out  of  the 
fight." 

"  It  is  his  only  chance !  "  shouts  the  doctor  to  the 
commanding  officer's  inquiring  glance,  for  the  noise 
is  greater  than  before.  The  British  artillery  are  by  the 
quickest  kind  of  an  unceasing  fire  trying  to  relieve  the 
stricken  infantry  that  can  get  no  further  than  the  canal. 
Unable  to  retreat  from  it,  these  hold  the  dyke  beside  it 
in  the  grim  despair  of  men  who  have  the  bitter  end  of 
a  life  and  death  struggle. 

At  the  colonel's  nod  Osuri,  bending  down  his  lithe, 
wiry  frame,  lifts  the  big  lieutenant,  now  helpless  as  a 
child,  from  the  muddy  ground. 

"  Tare  an'  ages !  ye'll  both  be  drowned  in  the 
swamp  if  ye  aint  shot  to  death,"  growls  McCormick; 
and  stepping  to  the  lieutenant-colonel,  he  salutes  and 
says :  "  I  volunteer,  yer  honor,  to  bring  back  ammu- 
nition, av  I  get  there  alive!  Incidentally  I'll  help  me 
lieutenant  to  the  rear." 


226  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  You'll  never  get  through,"  comments  the  command- 
ant, "  but  if  you  want  to  take  the  risk,  do  so." 

So  the  two,  seeking  as  warriors  of  common  sense 
the  best  protection  of  the  dykes,  pass  slowly  over  that 
mile  of  death  swamp  by  a  miracle  unharmed,  till  they 
reach  the  arsenal,  and  behind  its  mud  wall  deliver  to 
the  field  hospital  the  raving  American,  who  has  once 
or  twice  struggled  from  them. 

Then,  it  drawing  towards  evening,  in  the  dusk  Mc- 
Cormick  gets  back  with  ammunition ;  and  after  night- 
fall has  fallen  deep  upon  the  earth  to  give  them  safety 
the  line  falls  slowly  back  from  the  Tien  Tsin  wall.  For 
never  had  Moguls  held  out  so  defianty  or  put  up  so 
stout  a  battle  as  did  the  trained  bands  of  the  Salt-Com- 
missioner, the  armies  of  Nieh  and  Mah,  and  the 
hordes  of  red-bedaubed  Boxers,  bearing  their  triangu- 
lar mystic  banners  and  their  yellow  josses  to  make 
them  invulnerable  to  foreign  devil  bullets. 

So  the  world  drops  back  from  that  dread  canal — 
defeated;  all  save  the  Japanese,  who  hang  on  to  the 
houses  on  the  causeway ;  their  general  Fukushina  hav- 
ing fought  the  Chinese  before,  knowing  that  persist- 
ency is  the  one  way  to  Mongolian  vitals. 

Whereupon,  late  this  night,  darkness  making  the  fire 
not  so  deadly  but  that  some  men  live  to  get  through  it, 
the  warriors  of  Dai-Nippon  rush  the  last  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  causeway  straight  to  the  main  gate  of  the 
city.  Heading  the  line  goes  a  stout  little  corporal  of 
engineers,  followed  by  six  men  carrying  handfuls  of 
gun  cotton.  Three  die,  but  they  blow  open  with  a 
low  roar,  the  great  outer  iron  gate. 

In  fly  the  Japanese  with  a  cry  of  triumph,  to  find 
themselves  in  an  awful  cul-de-sac.  Another  wall  con- 
fronts them,  a  second  ruthless  iron  gate. 

Pelted  by  gingal-fire  and  machine  guns  they  still 
hang  on.  Word  is  shouted  back  for  more  gun  cotton. 

THEY  DO  NEED  IT! 

An  exploit  that  D'Artagnan  had   scarce   done   in 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  227 

wildest  Dumas  frenzy  saves  the  trapped  heroes  of  the 
Mikado.  Six  sturdy  fishermen-soldiers,  who  have 
barefooted  clambered  up  the  storm-washed  rocks  of 
Cape  Soya,  swarm  hand  over  hand,  assisting 
each  other,  up  the  slippery  wall,  while  a  hundred  Tar- 
tars fire  upon  them  from  the  top. 

Confronted  by  such  extravagant  courage  the  Chinese 
confusedly  fall  back.  The  bullets  seem  to  turn  from 
these  brave  men,  who  dropping  on  the  other  side,  spring 
to  the  big  iron  gate  and  throw  it  open.  In  rush  the 
Japanese.  The  warriors  of  Dai-Nippon  have  done 
the  impossible — without  siege  artillery  they  have 
stormed  the  Tien  Tsin  wall. 

From  this  combat,  Osuri  returns  bearing  a  dispatch 
from  his  victorious  general  to  the  allied  commanders, 
whose  troops,  hearing  the  battle,  rushing  to  the  support 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  Red  Sun,  are  now  pouring  along 
the  causeway  into  the  doomed  town.  He  has  just  deliv- 
ered it  near  the  Hai-Kaiang  arsenal,  when  a  cavalry 
patrol,  to  the  west  of  headquarters,  give  out  a  spattering 
fire. 

A  moment  later  a  Japanese  officer  riding  up  asks: 
"  Who  speaks  English  here?  A  woman  is  sobbing  in 
that  language.  By  mistake  we  fired  upon  two  Chinese 
women  and  a  man ;  the  man  is  dying  but  the  women 
are  unharmed."  Then  recognizing  Osuri,  he  cries : 
"  Captain  Katsuma,  you  are  the  very  man.  Please 
come  with  us  and  hear  what  our  prisoners  say." 

Carelessly  the  young  officer  mounts  a  headquarter's 
pony.  For  all  this  stifling  day,  though  he  has  fought 
with  dogged  mathematical  precision ;  there  has  seemed 
to  be  no  luminary  in  the  burning  heavens  to  Osuri 
Katsuma,  and  ever  and  anon  amid  the  pattering  bul- 
lets he  has  moaned :  "  My  Sun-goddess  is  no  more !  " 

A  few  moments  later  he  is  at  the  Japanese  outpost. 
Here,  under  a  little  shelter-tent  lies  a  man  whom  he 
knows  at  once.  Bending  down,  he  whispers  in  hoarse 
astonishment :  "  Lum  Kee !  Devil !  Tell  me  of  your 


228  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

master  whom  you  have  betrayed,  and  your  sweet  mis- 
tress, who  is  dead  in  the  Peking  legation." 

"  No  dead !  "  sighs  the  Chinaman  in  gasping  voice. 
"  Heap  mistake — damn  fool  shootee  poor  Chinaman — 
who  clum  to  sabe." 

"  Save  the  dead  ?    Impossible !  " 

"  No  dead ;  Misser  Boardman  and  him  daughter — 
seven  mile  off  in  Chieun's  palace.  Libe  when  me  leave ! 
You  gettee  there  on  time ! "  Then  the  faithful  and 
misunderstood  Chinese  gasps :  "  Water — lillie  water ! 
Poor  Chinaman  die  for  Melican  man's  daughter.  You 
sabe — Missee  Eira — gettee  to  Chieun's  white  pagoda 
— heap  quickee !  " 

To  this  the  Japanese  does  not  answer,  though  the 
corporal  at  his  signal  pours  water  into  the  parched  lips 
of  the  faithful,  dying  coolie.  For  into  Osuri's  mind 
has  sprung  hope,  aye,  even  happiness.  Though  He 
saves  her  for  another,  his  goddess  is  yet  alive !  The 
heavens  are  so  bright  to  him,  the  burning  town  adds 
not  to  their  radiance ;  for  as  the  allies  pour  in,  fires  are 
springing  up  in  old  Tien  Tsin;  and  the  outlying  vil- 
lages are  tasting  their  baptism  of  Cossack  kerosene. 

Then  they  toss  out  of  the  tent  a  dead  Chinese  body, 
and  he  commands  nervously :  "  The  women !  "  for  a 
wild  and  curious  hope  is  in  his  heart. 

Two  women  are  in  a  nearby  native  hut; — the  light 
of  a  sickly  lamp  scarce  illuminates  it.  A  Chinese  girl 
is  before  him  sobbing  in  English :  "  Mercy,  Captain 
Japanese ;  you  know  Lie-lie  ?  On  steamer  deck,  you 
'member.  Missee  Passmere  amah." 

"  The  other  one !  "  he  whispers  hoarsely.  "  Eira,"  he 
cries ;  and  steps  toward  a  crouching  woman  who  pull- 
ing off  veils  and  disguise  looks  upon  him  with  ghastly 
face  and  whispers :  "  Captain  Katsuma,  you  scarce 
can  recognize  me.  To  escape  the  Boxers,  Lie  made  me 
a  Chinese  face.  I  am  Flora  Passmere,  a  mother  im- 
ploring for  her  child.  For  God's  sake  get  some  men 
and  save  my  little  boy — before  Chieun  murders  him — 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  229 

my  darling  Harold.  You'll  save  him — I  see  it  in  your 
eye — you'll  die  to  save  him — because  his  little  life  is 
linked  to  that  of  the  being  you  worship — Eira  Board- 
man.  Hurry  or  she  will  kill  herself — in  shame  and 
outrage  some  time  this  coming  day." 

Sighing  this  forth,  she  faints  away,  but  water  being 
poured  down  her  throat,  and  finally  strong  sake-brandy, 
Flora  revives  and  begins  again  to  speak,  telling  the 
Japanese  such  horrors  that  at  first  he  will  not  believe. 
But  finally  she  proves  her  words  by  the  tale  of  the  in- 
tercepted Hong  Kong  letter  that  had  it  been  delivered 
might  have  gained  his  aid. 

As  Passmere's  and  his  sister's  plot  for  the  defilement 
of  his  goddess  strikes  the  young  daimio,  a  hara-kiri 
expression  comes  upon  his  face — but  it  is  not  his  hara- 
kiri.  Seeing  this  she  cries  "  You'll  be  there !  " 

"  By  Isanagi,  yes !  "  answers  Katsuma ;  then  his 
voice  grows  rasping  as  he  says :  "  You  know  Mrs. 
Passmere,  you  are  condemning  your  husband  to 
death !  " 

"  My  husband  !  My  fiend !  "  shivers  the  woman  ; 
then  screams  in  weird  agony :  "  God  of  heaven,  I  bear 
to  him  a  child  within  my  breast,  who  will  be  a  fiend 
also ! "  and  delirious  with  a  monstrous  horror  the 
fainting  creature  is  sent  away  in  a  riksha  com- 
mandeered for  the  purpose,  to  the  Sisters'  Hospital  in 
the  European  concessions. 

But  the  miserable  wife  leaves  behind  her  a  Japanese 
who  has  become  as  medievally  relentless  as  that 
Yoshitsume  who  spared  not! 

Examining  his  revolvers  carefully;  he  knows  he 
has  before  him,  after  the  exhaustion  of  a  day's 
battle  and  a  night's  attack,  an  exploit  wett-nigh  im- 
possible. No  men  will  be  detailed  to  assist  him. 
There  are  too  few  now  to  patrol  the  looted  city; 
the  Pagoda  Fort  is  not  yet  captured  and  the  Ma- 
rine Arsenal  still  holds  out.  Certainly  no  detachment 
large  enough  to  fight  its  way  through  the  Chinese 


230  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

lines  outside  of  the  city  can  be  spared.  Therefore,  he 
must  go  forth  alone. 

Mounting,  Osuri  rides  hastily  to  the  American  field 
hospital.  To  the  doctor  he  tells  in  quick  sharp  words 
the  story  which  would  be  better  to  Jim  Ingraham  than 
all  the  surgical  skill  on  earth. 

"  In  his  present  delirious  state,  could  he  understand 
you,  the  revelation  that  his  affianced  still  lives  might 
kill  him  with  excitement,"  remarks  the  sawbones. 
"  Write  a  letter  Captain  Katsuma,  and  at  the  first  mo- 
ment it  is  medically  possible  I  will  deliver  it  to  the 
lieutenant.  A  little  bullet  through  the  arm,  though  to  it 
is  added  an  awful  mental  despair,  will  hardly  disable 
for  any  length  of  time  a  strong  young  man — Ingraham 
should  be  about  very  soon." 

Whereupon  Katsuma  writes  a  short,  pertinent  note, 
and  going  to  the  cot  where  his  friend  lies  raving  of  his 
destroyed  idol,  he  places  his  lips  reverently  upon  the 
fevered  forehead  and  whispers :  "  Pills !  I  bring  her 
back  to  you." 

Coming  from  this,  for  he  has  need  of  speed,  he  rides 
his  pony  desperately  along  the  causeway  to  the  cap- 
tured city,  into  which  with  him  are  pressing  the  allied 
forces — English,  American,  French. 

The  battle  is  still  going  on  along  the  walls,  the  Rus- 
sians and  Germans  upon  the  north  not  having  made 
entry,  and  the  Marine  Barracks  and  the  Pagoda  Fort 
holding  out  stoutly.  Already  the  looting  is  beginning; 
already  the  burning  is  going  on ;  the  flames  from  in- 
cendiary torches  lapping  the  bodies  of  dead  and 
wounded  Chinese,  combatants  and  non-combatants, 
even  sometimes  women  and  children. 

Into  this  pandemonium  Katsuma,  forcing  his  way, 
reaches  the  headquarters  of  his  chief.  To  his  request, 
Fukushina,  being  very  busy,  listens  hurriedly.  Osuri, 
being  a  staff  officer  and  unattached,  after  a  little 
obtains  leave  but  no  soldiers. 

"  I  have  not  enough  for  the  work  ahead  of  me  now," 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  23! 

dissents  the  general  of  Dai-Xippon.  "  You  will  have 
to  go  alone." 

He  hurries  to  the  American  headquarters,  and  rind- 
ing the  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Ninth  there,  but  also 
very  busy,  tells  him  of  the  strait  of  Americans  but  a 
few  miles  away. 

To  him  the  lieutenant-colonel  says  shortly :  "  I  have 
only  eight  hundred  effectives,  though  the  Third  Battal- 
ion has  now  arrived.  The  whole  American  column 
would  scarce  be  enough  to  force  their  way  through  the 
Chinese  retreating  army.  You  noticed  how  those 
trained  imperial  troops  fought.  But,  at  the  first 
opportunity  a  detachment  will  be  sent  out.  Of  that 
I  pledge  my  word  Captain  Katsuma." 

"  If  I  could  obtain  a  few  men ! "  pleads  Osuri, 
who  has  been  shown  in  by  the  sergeant  of  the  guard. 
This  is  the  burly  McCormick,  who  is  still  standing  be- 
hind at  attention.  "  I  could  not  ask  you  to  order  them, 
it  is  too  desperate  a  service,  but  let  me  have  a  vol- 
unteer or  two!  " 

"  With  yer  honor's  permission,  here's  one  volun- 
teer!  "  comes  from  behind  him  in  the  Irish  voice ;  "Be- 
dad !  I'd  loike  to  go  with  this  Japanese  gent  who  I've 
sane  shoulder  a  musket  at  West  Point  like  an  Ameri- 
can officer,  and  fight  this  blessed  day  like  an  Eastern 
deamon." 

"  We're  here  to  save  Americans,"  answers  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  Ninth.  "  You'd  get  the  whole 
regiment  to  rescue  Jim  Ingraham's  sweetheart,  but  I 
can  only  let  you  have  this  one.  McCormick!  you're 
always  trying  to  get  killed.  Go,  if  you  wish." 

"  Sure  it's  a  soldier's  first  duty  to  git  kilt  under 
his  officer's  orders,  yer  honor,"  remarks  the  Irishman, 
as  the  lieutenant-colonel  turns  from  them  and  speaks 
hastily  to  an  officer  who  has  just  entered:  "  Captain 
Duncan,  take  two  companies  of  the  Third  Battalion, 
they're  the  freshest,  to  patrol  eastward  from  the  main 
gate.  Keep  down  the  fires;  shoot  any  incendiaries; 
arrest  all  looters !  " 


232  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Twenty  minuses  after,  Osuri  and  McCormick,  eacli 
on  a  little  pony  laden  with  ammunition,  and  followed 
by  Saraki,  Katsuma's  faithful  boy,  taking  with  them 
Lie-lie  to  guide  them,  set  out  on  a  kind  of  knight-er- 
rant journey;  circling  wide  round  the  Chinese  lines, 
stumbling  through  the  muddy  ruts  of  the  rice  swamps 
and  sneaking  along  the  byways  of  the  broom-corn 
fields  towards  the  palace  of  the  Chinese  Commissioner- 
High. 

As  he  journeys,  the  Japanese  whispers  confidently  to 
himself:  "Sun-goddess!  it  is  not  possible  the  gods 
will  let  thy  bright  wings  be  soiled  by  a  Chinese  mon- 
ster," then  voices  a  hope  that  makes  him  curse  himself 
as  traitor  to  his  chum  of  chums :  "  Perchance  if  I  die 
for  her ;  in  her  sweet  soul  will  come  for  a  dead  man  a 
living  love."  • 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"  GAL  DARN  IT,  PLUGGED  WITH  MY  OWN  BULLET !  " 

The  earliest  tints  of  the  Eastern  morning  are  enter- 
ing the  big  chamber  of  the  American  arms  manufac- 
turer in  the  compound  of  the  Chinese  palace  set  apart 
for  Boardman  and  his  friends ;  the  voices  of  morning 
birds  from  the  gardens  and  the  soft  splash  of  the  run- 
ning brook  and  fountain  soothe  the  Yankee.  The 
rumble  of  battle  down  Tien  Tsin  way  has  died  into  a 
grumble. 

Lying  on  his  pallet,  aroused  from  the  heavy  slumber 
of  confident  security  and  Chieun's  luxurious  banquet, 
Joel  Boardman  yawns  sleepily :  "  Hang  it,  don't  wake 
me  up  so  early,  Lumky !  "  then  grumbles  savagely : 
"  You  Chinese  rapscallion,  give  me  another  nap  while 
you  get  my  bath  ready." 

Suddenly,  half  rising  in  bed,  his  eyes  startled  and 
unbelieving,  the  American  ejaculates :  "  Great  Scott, 
Katsuma!  How  the  devil  did  you  come  here?  Have 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  233 

the  Allies  fought  their  way  through?    Was  Chieun's 
despatch  of  Chinese  victory  last  night  a  lie  ?  " 

Here  the  Japanese,  covered  with  the  mud  and  dust 
of  his  desperate  journey,  astonishes  the  American  by 
placing  his  finger  to  his  lips  and  whispering:  "Get 
up ;  I  am  here  to  save  you !  " 

"  Save  me?  Why  I  am  as  safe  as  a  clam  at  high 
water,  under  my  friend  Chieun's  protection.  The  man- 
darin has  a  thousand  troops  and  Boxers  here.  He 
promises  my  daughter  and  our  party  safe  conduct  to  a 
treaty  port.  It  is  you,  Osuri,  who  have  blundered 
into  danger !  " 

"  Rise  up,  man,  if  you  would  save  your  daughter 
from  outrage  worse  than  a  thousand  deaths ! " 

"  Good  God,  you  are  crazy !  " 

"  No,  but  you  will  be !  Put  on  your  clothes  quick 
and  listen  to  me  for  your  daughter's  life  and  honor!  " 

The  tone  of  the  Japanese  is  so  impressive  that  after 
staring  at  him  a  moment  the  American  hastily  calls: 
"  Here,  Lumky !  " 

"Lum  Kee  is  dead!" 

"  Holy  poker ! "  Boardman  struggles  out  of  bed. 

"  The  poor  wretch  died  trying  to  get  into  our  lines 
to  save  your  daughter.  For  your  child's  sake  hurry; 
and  listen  to  me." 

Then,  as  the  manufacturer  slips  on,  with  hands  that 
are  uncertain  from  agitation,  the  light  garments  of 
the  East,  Osuri  tells  the  astounded  American  a  tale 
of  weird  treachery  and  cruel  malice  which  at  first 
makes  his  listener  rip  out  awful  Yankee  oaths,  and 
then  gasp  in  almost  unbelieving  horror :  "  My  pure 
angel  to  be  tossed  for  desecration  into  the  arms  of  that 
Chinese  savage.  My  God,  it  can't  be!  Chieun's  ban- 
ner has  protected  us  so  far.  You  implore  me  to  give 
up  the  safety  the  great  mandarin  has  promised  us,  to 
take  our  chances  with  you  and  your  two  followers  in  a 
fight  to  the  finish  with  all  these  thousands  of  surround- 
ing Boxers.  Think  what  you  ask,  Katsuma.  The 


234  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

Chinese  potentate's  power  is  surely  sufficient  to  pro- 
tect me  and  my  child.  His  attentions  to  Eira 
have  been  almost  princely — — "  The  American  pauses 
sharply,  some  idea  of  Chieun's  interest  in  his  lovely 
daughter  now  for  the  first  time  coming  into  his  busi- 
ness mind.  Then  he  goes  on  again  dissentingly :  "  By 
the  Lord,  you  also  expect  me  to  believe  that  Passmere 
and  his  sister,  for  my  dollars,  plotted  with  Chieun  my 
death  and  my  daughter's  outrage.  Your  words  are 
monstrous.  Flora  accuse  the  husband  that  she  loves  of 
such  a  fiendish  crime  ?  Coming  motherhood  has  made 
my  poor  niece  crazy." 

"  I  will  prove  it !  "  asserts  Osuri  desperately.  "  For 
you  must  act ;  and  to  act,  you  must  believe." 

"How?" 

The  Japanese  captain  thinks  deeply  for  a  moment ; 
then  says  tersely :  "  By  Imogene  Passmere's  own  lips. 
She  has  the  craft  of  a  witch  but  a  woman's  nerves,  a 
woman's  emotions." 

Stepping  out  of  the  chamber  he  whispers  some  hur- 
ried orders  to  Lie-lie  who,  having  guided  the  party  to 
Chieun's  palace,  is  now  tremblingly  waiting  in  the 
outer  hall  of  the  pavilion. 

As  the  light  patter  of  the  amah's  white-soled  shoes 
dies  away  upon  the  hard  wood  floor,  Osuri,  turning  to 
Boardman,  says  sharply :  "  To  save  time,  I'll  explain 
matters,"  and  gives  his  astonished  listener,  as  addi- 
tional proof  of  Passmere's  and  his  sister's  perfidy, 
Flora's  story  of  the  purloined  letter  in  Hong  Kong. 

"  By  the  eternal,  I  saw  .Eira  give  it  with  her  own 
hands  to  his  wife !  "  mutters  the  half-convinced  Amer- 
ican. 

To  this  Katsuma  adds  a  hasty  sketch  of  the  military 
arrangements  he  has  made.  "  In  case  I  die,  get  your 
daughter  to  the  white  pagoda !"  he  says  hurriedly. 
"  There  McCormick,  the  Irish  sergeant  of  the  Ninth 
Regiment  is  guarding  our  ponies  loaded  with  ammuni- 
tion and  our  rifles.  My  faithful  Nihonese  boy,  Saraki, 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  235 

is  just  outside  this  door/'  Next  whispers :  "  By  Ema, 
she  is  coming.  Now  let  us  have  a  little  light  on  this 
treacherous  woman's  face." 

As  Osuri  throws  open  the  casements,  the  sun,  just 
rising,  enters  the  big,  bare,  vacant  chamber  and  makes 
it  bright;  the  sweet  songs  of  awaking  larks  and  finches 
enter,  mingled  with  the  soft  noise  of  rippling  water 
and  the  odors  of  countless  flowers. 

A  moment  after  a  light  rap  is  heard  upon  the  por- 
tal, and  in  ans\ver  to  Boardman's  hasty,  "  Come  in, 
Genie  !  "  Miss  Passmere  enters. 

The  horrors  of  the  night  have  told  upon  her. 
Fear  of  death  has  kept  sleep  from  her  eyes.  Though 
the  girl  is  frocked  in  dainty  white,  there  is  a  nervous 
abasement  in  her  appearance,  the  shrinking  shame 
which  had  covered  her  as  she  passed  out  from  the 
harem  of  the  Chinese  mandarin  has  not  yet  left  her. 
She  says  hurriedly:  "  Is  not  Flora  here?  I  thought  she 
wanted  to  see  me  about  little  Harold,  who  is  calling  for 
his  mother."  Then  noting  the  Japanese,  a  wild  ecstatic 
joy  flies  through  her;  she  cries  in  astounded  relief: 
"  Captain  Katsuma,  thank  God  you  are  here !  You 
have  come  to  save  us." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,"  remarks  the  Japanese  with 
Eastern  craft  and  extreme  affability.  "  you  are  in  no 
danger  here.  My  friend  Boardman  tells  me  of  the 
generous  protection  Chieun  has  given,  and  of  the  great 
mandarin's  promised  escort  to  a  treaty  port.  Of  course 
I  could  send  out  and  bring  in  a  few  companies  of  our 
infantry  ;  but  our  troops  seem  absolutely  unnecessary." 

At  this  assurance  of  safety  Imogene  trembles  and 
says  frantically :  "  My  God,  you  don't  know !  Chieun 
means  to  murder  us  all." 

"  You — you  are  dreaming!  "  cries  Osuri. 

"  Shucks,  nonsense !  "  exclaims  Boardman,  who  now 
perceives  the  subtle  stratagem  of  Osuri. 

"  You  must  get  your  companies  of  infantry  here 
quick !  "  goes  on  the  girl  impressively :  "  Otherwise 


236  TANGL2D  FLAGS. 

you  doom  us  all  to  death,  and  Eira  Boardman  to  the 
pollution  of  that  Chinese  monster !  " 

"  Miss  Boardman  to  the "  the  Japanese  cuts  off 

the  words  in  his  mouth  and  says,  gazing  at  her  as  if 
she  were  insane :  "  You  must  be  crazy ;  anxiety  has 
made  you  hysterical,  my  poor  girl.  The  mandarin  has 
shown  Eira  great  honor,  her  father  tells  me." 

"  Yes,  don't  let  us  hear  any  more  such  nonsense ! " 
interjects  Boardman,  imperatively.  "  Imogene,  take 
some  laudanum  for  your  nerves." 

"  Some  laudanum !  It  is  you  who  are  crazy,  who 
will  not  understand !  "  gasps  Miss  Passmere  frenziedly. 

For  now  Katsmua  is  saying  lightly :  "  Since  the 
mandarin  has  given  you  such  a  supper,  I  wonder  if  he 
would  not  do  equally  well  at  breakfast?  Don't  you 
think  you  had  better  suggest  it  to  his  Chinese  secre- 
tary, Boardman?  I  am  hungry." 

"  Not  a  bad  idea,"  assents  the  Yankee  quickly,  "  I 
am  hungry,  too." 

At  this  the  fear  of  death  runs  away  with  Imogene 
Passmere.  For  her  own  life,  she  must  make  them  be- 
lieve. She  cries  desperately:  "Are  you  mad?  Talk- 
ing of  breakfast  when  he  means  to  slay  you !  Didn't 
he  last  night  entertain  me,  and  yet  within  the  hour — 
My  heavens,  can't  you  guess?  To  seize  upon  her  love- 
liness is  the  reason  Chieun  plotted  to  lure  your 
daughter  here,  Mr.  Boardman.  That  is  why  he  used 
my  brother  and  I " 

She  pauses.  The  awful  look  of  the  Japanese  tells 
her  in  her  terror  she  has  said  too  much.  Gazing  upon 
his  face,  Imogene's  fair  features  become  in  an  instant 
white  as  the  dress  she  wears.  She  convicts  herself  by 
gasping :  "  God's  pity !  You  know  all.  Who  has  be- 
trayed us  ?  " 

"  Flora  Passmere !  "  whispers  Katsuma,  "  who  came 
to  our  outpost,  risking  all  a  woman  holds  dear,  actu- 
ated by  a  mother's  love,  and  begged  me  to  save  her 
little  boy.  But  her  story  was  too  atrocious  to  be  be- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  237 

lieved,  had  not  your  infernal  fears  given  us  the  proof, 
you  little  she  devil ! "  The  Japanese's  hand  seeks  his 
pistol. 

"  Mercy,  don't  kill  me !  "  half  shrieks  Imogene,  and 
would  fly  to  the  door — but  Saraki  bars  the  way. 

"  Unfortunately  I  was  educated  as  an  American  of- 
ficer and  find  it  hard  to  kill  a  woman,"  says  Osuri 
shortly;  though  Boardman's  hand  is  upon  his  arm 
half-pleadingly.  "  Were  I  an  old  time  Japanese,  my 
dagger  would  have  been  in  your  black  heart  ere  now." 
He  calls  sharply :  "  Saraki !  " 

"  Master !  "  and  the  Nihonese  boy  advances  slowly 
into  the  room,  Imogene  Passmere,  step  by  step,  re- 
treating shuddering  before  him. 

"  Bind  this  woman !  Secure  her  in  the  white  pa- 
goda!" 

Suddenly  Saraki's  dark  eyes  roll  in  superstitious 
horror.  He  looks  upon  the  fairy-like  face  now  full  of 
hideous  despair  and  diabolic  passion  and  whispers, 
"  Diakoku,  my  master,  the  woman,  who  at  the  steamer 
in  Hong  Kong  looked  like  a  girl  at  the  Sacred  Tree 
doing  the  Ushi-toki-mairi.  Thy  fate  and  mine  is  upon 
us." 

"  Hold  thy  superstitions  and  obey  me,"  orders 
Katsuma  tersely. 

With  a  piece  of  strong  cord  from  his  belt,  and  the 
deft  art  peculiar  to  the  Japanese,  Saraki,  despite  faint 
struggles  and  whispered  pleadings,  seizes  in  his  lithe 
arms  the  fluttering  culprit  and  ties  her  into  an  inert 
bundle.  A  peculiar  mediaeval  expression  on  the 
Japanese  captain's  face  makes  Imogene's  eyes  dim 
with  tears ;  her  lips  writhe  out  faintly :  "  My  brother 
— my  lost  brother !  " 

Then  a  piece  of  cotton  forced  hastily  between  her 
white  teeth  by  Saraki  chokes  a  sister's  anguish.  He 
carries  Imogene  Passmere  away,  coolie-fashion,  as  if 
she  were  a  bale  of  hemp  or  a  bag  of  rice. 

"  You  believe  now  ?  " 


238  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

I 

"  Of  course  I  do !  "  answers  Boardman. 

"  Now  for  her  brother."  Osuri's  voice  is  harsh  in 
determination.  "  No  time  for  a  court  martial,  only 
for  execution.  Besides  this  fiend's  crime  would  con- 
demn him  even  in  the  quiet  time  of  peace." 

Revolver  in  hand  the  Japanese  officer  steps  out  of 
the  door.  Boardman  watching  him,  gives  a  shudder. 

Two  minutes  after  Katsmua  returns. 
| :  "  Did  you  finish  the  skunk  ?  "  mutters  the  Yankee. 

"  No,  the  snake  escaped  me.  This  astute  devil  must 
have  seen  something  that  made  him  suspect.  He  is 
probably  concealed  in  the  shrubbery  of  the  garden ; 
for,  mark  me,  Arthur  Passmere  is  doubtless  now  more 
frightened  of  Chieun  than  he  is  of  us.  But  this 
makes  it  necessary  we  act  like  lightning."  Despite  the 
hurry  of  his  words,  the  Japanese  is  military  coolness 
personified. 

Saraki  is  reporting :  "  I  have  secured  the  witch  in 
the  white  pagoda.  From  its  balcony  McCormick  re- 
ports he  sees  big  quantities  of  armed  people.  Boxers 
and  Chinese  troops  retreating  this  way  from  the  burn- 
ing city." 

"  Tell  McCormick  to  unpack  the  ponies  and  store 
the  arms  and  ammunition  in  the  first  gallery  of  the 
white  pagoda,"  orders  Katsuma.  The  boy  going 
away,  he  turns  to  Boardman  and  remarks :  "  You  see 
flight  is  impossible.  We  can  but  defend  your  daughter 
till  we  die." 

"  That  being  the  case,"  returns  the  Yankee  coolly. 
"  I've  been  a  bit  of  a  fighter  once  in  a  way  myself !  " 
The  old  Gettysburg  look,  with  which  as  a  young  man 
he  had  faced  Lee's  veterans  in  the  Peach  Orchard  and 
on  Little  Round  Top,  comes  into  the  clean-cut  busi- 
ness face,  and  Joel  Boardman  is  once  more  a  warrior. 

"  How  shall  we  stand  these  fellows  off,  Katsuma  ?  " 
he  says  sharply.  "  You  have  modern  military  train- 
ing; I  can  only  pull  a  trigger.  You  take  command." 

"  The  white  pagoda  is  a  fortress  that  could  stand 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  239 

against  anything  lighter  than  field  artillery,  if  we  only 
had  a  few  of  your  rapid-fire  guns,  Mr.  Boardman," 
replies  the  Japanese  musingly.  "  As  it  is,  we  must 
do  our  best  with  the  arms  McCormick  and  I  have 
brought  with  us." 

"  Rapid-fire  guns  ?  "  mutters  the  American ;  then  he 
suddenly  cries :  "  By  gum,  we've  got  'em !  " 

"  Impossible !  " 

Joel  points  to  the  five  big  packing  cases  in  the  corner 
of  his  long  room. 

The  eyes  of  the  West  Pointer  flash.  "  By  the  God 
of  Fortune,  your  sample  guns !  " 

"  Yes,  and  of  course  better  than  any  others  we  turn 
out ;  and  ammunition — each  cartridge  warranted — 
enough  to  fight  a  battle !  One  lightning-fire  tripod  one- 
pound  shell  gun,  and  two  quick  movable,  3O-calibre 
automatics  with  steel  shields,  running  upon  wheels." 

"  Then  send  Lie-lie  for  your  daughter  and  little 
Harold,  and  before  Chieun  guesses  we  will  have  the 
guns  mounted  on  the  stone  verandas  of  the  white  pa- 
goda." The  Japanese  flies  after  McCormick  and 
Saraki. 

Two  minutes  after,  seeing  Boardman  tearing  off  the 
cases  from  the  rapid-fires,  the   Irish  sergeant's  eyes 
twinkle.     "  By  Limerick,  thase'll  surprise  Jack  China- 
man when  he  opens  his  slaapy  eyes,"  he  grimly  mut- 
ters.    And  the  four  men  get  to  work  for  their  lives, 
]  unpacking  and  carrying  piece  by  piece  the  guns  and 
I  case  by  case  the  ammunition  to  the  white  pagoda. 

Into  this  scene  of  military  activity,  glides  Eira 
Boardman,  white-robed  and  lovely  as  a  Goddess  of  the 
Morning,  though  there  is  a  pathos  in  her  blue  eyes, 
borne  of  anxiety  for  her  lover  on  the  battle-field. 

Seeing  Osuri,  she  extends  a  cordial  hand  to  him  and 
whispers  gratefully :  "  God  bless  you  for  coming, 
though  it  is  only  additional  safety ;  Chieun  has  prom- 
ised us  all  protection ' 

Something  in  Katsuma's  bearing  stays  her  sweet 


240  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

voice.  "  Yes,  I  am  here  to  save  you,"  he  says  simply. 
"  Your  father  will  tell  you  all — it  is  necessary  that  you 
know." 

The  horror  in  Boardman's  eyes  impresses  her. 
He  leads  his  daughter  apart.  Looking  like  the  Roman 
father,  when  upon  the  ancient  Forum  he  spoke  to  Vir- 
ginia, claimed  as  Tarquin's  slave,  the  American  makes 
awful  whispered  revelation  to  his  child. 

To  this  at  first  the  girl  listens  in  amazed  unbelief. 
Then  as  her  father's  words  bring  conviction  to  her  she 
remembers  her  intercepted  letter  in  Hong  Kong,  and 
stricken  not  only  by  the  treachery  of  those  she  had 
deemed  almost  relatives,  but  more  by  the  cold,  cruel, 
debasing  outrage  they  had  plotted  for  her  in  the  arms 
of  a  Chinese  satyr,  she  shrinks  and  droops  and  quiv- 
ers. But  after  one  tremendous,  torturing,  cowering 
blush  of  weird  and  bashful  horror,  Eira  Boardman 
raises  her  maiden  eyes  resolute  as  the  Roman  virgin's. 

As  Joel's  closing  words  come  to  her,  sharp  as  the 
rattle  of  one  of  his  own  rapid-fires :  "Mark  you  child ; 
before  Chieun's  hand  is  laid  upon  you,  I  kill  you! 
Therefore,  have  no  fear,  except  of  death !  "  her  spirit- 
uelle  face  lights  up  with  vestal  fire. 

The  young  American  maid  says  in  proud  determina- 
tion :  "  My  father,  you  shall  not  take  that  horror.  At 
the  last,  I  kill  myself !  This  little  thing  has  been  with 
me  ever  since  we  left  Peking ! "  A  tiny  revolver 
gleams  in  her  hand. 

This  Katsuma  interrupts.  He  says  hastily :  "  Board- 
man, tell  the  women  to  get  all  the  pillow-cases,  sheets 
and  blankets  and  make  them  into  bags ;  let  them  fill 
them  with  dirt  or  sand  immediately  outside  the  white 
pagoda." 

"  That  shall  be  my  care,"  cries  Eira.  "  I  struggle 
to  save  my  life."  And  she  gathers  together 
Lie-lie  and  the  Indian  ayah,  who  has  brought  little 
Harold,  and  gets  them  all  to  work.  Even  the  urchin 
thinking  it  is  play,  helps  to  fill  the  bags,  as  they 


FLAGS.  241 

make  them,  with  a  toy  shovel ;  for  never  for  a  moment 
does  Osuri  permit  pause  in  his  military  preparations 

The  rapid-fires  and  ammunition  are  in  the  white 
pagoda.  He  is  ordering  the  food  that  can  be  gleaned 
up  without  alarming  the  Chinese,  who  must  be 
waking  now,  taken  into  the  improvised  fortress.  As 
for  water,  a  fountain  plays  in  the  lower  story  of  the 
pagoda.  Fearing  the  pipes  to  this  might  be  cut  off, 
the  thoughtful  officer  directs  that  all  their  vessels  and 
bath-tubs  be  filled  and  carried  to  the  upper  balconies. 

These  preparations,  little  Harold,  wielding  his  toy 
spade,  watches  merrily.  As  the  polyglot  infant  sees 
the  provisions,  wines  and  liquors  of  Chinese  hos- 
pitality carried  to  the  upper  stories  of  the  pa- 
goda, he  prattles:  " Mein  Himmel,  line  fete  cham- 
petre  to  old  Chieun  dans  la  pagoda  blanche.  Ma 
maman  dit  le  Mandarin  Chinois  fait  un  grand  banquet, 
letzte  nacht.  Oh  this  will  be  a  high  old  spree !  "  and 
his  childish  shovel  points  to  the  white  balconies  that 
rise  pyramid-like  above  him. 

To  this  McCormick  laughs :  "  Bedad,  me  little  all- 
nation  bantam,  we're  going  to  give  the  Chinese  a  hell 
of  a  fate  wid  lead."  Then  he  suddenly  asks :  "  Cap- 
tain, 'ave  yes  thought  of  the  baccy — if  it's  going  to  be 
a  long  sage." 

"  Five  boxes  of  cigars  and  ten  bottles  of  whiskey 
xip  above !  "  cries  Boardman  cheerily. 

"  Then  thank  God,  wa've  the  crature  comforts !  " 
The  grizzled  sergeant  is  mounting  the  heaviest  of 
Boardman's  rapid-fires. 

These  guns  are  now  put  into  position  with  great 
rapidity;  the  Yankee  manufacturer  understands  his 
own  mechanisms  to  a  nicety;  the  Japanese  officer  has 
proved  many  of  these  deadly  engines  on  the  Tokio 
firing  grounds.  The  one-pound  shell  machine  is  quick- 
ly ready,  its  ammunition  placed  beside  it,  and  the  two 
movable  3O-calibre  are  already  upon  their  wheels 
to  move  about  as  needed.  All  three  are  placed 


TANGLED  FLAGS. 

upon  the  balcony  surrounding  the  first  tier  of  the  pa- 
goda, the  big  tripod  mounted  at  an  angle  in  the  walls, 
so  it  commands  two  sides  of  the  building. 

Slapping  one  of  his  weapons  proudly  upon  the 
breech-block,  the  pride  of  a  mechanic  in  his  eyes, 
Boardman  says :  "  Now  I'll  see  these  little  fellows  of 
mine  work  on  real  flesh  and  blood." 

A  long  stairway  of  whrte  stone  leads  from  the 
lower  story  to  the  first  tier  of  the  edifice.  It  is  not 
straight  and  therefore  cannot  be  raked  in  its  entirety — 
the  first  portion,  some  ten  feet  in  extent,  reaches  a 
landing  place — from  this  at  right  angles  the  balance 
of  the  stairs  ascends  to  the  floor  above.  This  landing 
place,  under  Osuri's  instructions,  is  hurriedly  mined 
with  a  couple  of  pounds  of  gun  cotton  and  connected 
by  a  quick-burning  fuse,  led  up  in  a  groove  of  the 
balustrade  to  the  first  tier.  "  This,  at  the  very  last !  " 
mutters  Katsuma  grimly.  Along  the  balustrade  he 
places  sand  bags  as  far  down  as  the  landing  place,  to 
protect  it  from  a  flanking  fire ;  for  this  stone  platform 
must  be  their  first  point  of  resistance  in  case  an  attempt 
is  made  to  rush  the  stairway. 

Then  the  Japanese  officer  makes  hasty  inspection 
and,  finding  the  pagoda  is  fit  as  his  means  and  time 
can  make  it,  descends  to  the  lower  story,  just  outside 
of  which  Eira,  the  women  and  boy  are  filling  and  sew- 
ing up  the  last  of  the  sand  bags ;  a  careful  eye  being 
kept  by  the  prowling  Saraki  that  no  enemies  approach. 

To  these  helpless  ones,  Katsuma  addresses  himself. 
At  his  word  Harold  laughingly  runs  up  the  twenty  feet 
of  stone  steps  to  the  balcony  of  the  graceful  edi- 
fice, followed  by  the  trembling  Lie-lie  and  the  Indian 
nurse. 

Bending  before  Miss  Boardman,  he  murmurs : 
"  Sun  Goddess !  "  and  offers  his  arm  in  the  same  cere- 
monious gallantry  he  did  at  Mrs.  Murray's  dance  upon 
the  far-away  peaceful  Kennedy  Road. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  243 

As  Eira  places  a  graceful  hand  upon  his  sleeve 
the  fountain,  which  has  been  playing  merrily  near 
them,  suddenly  ceases  its  flow  and  grows  silent.  "  Al- 
ready they  suspect,"  remarks  the  Japanese.  "  Cutting 
off  our  water  is  the  first  act  of  war.  Hurry !  " 

A  moment  after  this  the  light  steps  of  youth  take 
them  to  tfie  first  tier  of  the  pagoda.  Of  oblong  shape, 
its  interior  is  one  large  severely  beautiful  room,  whose 
white  marble  walls  are  strong  enough  to  resist  any- 
thing lighter  than  field  artillery.  Surrounding  this 
is  a  balustraded  balcony  some  ten  feet  wide  of  the 
same  dazzling  stone.  Passing  through  the  room  in 
which  are  stored  their  provisions  and  water  they  step 
out  on  the  balcony.  Above  them  rises  in  the  mists  of 
the  morning,  sepulcnral,  pyramid-like,  the  two  upper 
stories  of  the  white  pagoda.  Below  on  three  sides 
are  the  perfumed  flower  gardens  of  the  Chinese  palace. 

From  these  places  now  is  heard  the  buzz  of  rapidly 
awakening  people;  in  several  courtyards  bodies  of 
irregular  troops  are  gathering  hurriedly  in  the  slip- 
shod way  peculiar  to  Mongolian  military  crudity. 

Upon  the  other  side,  ten  feet  below  them,  is  the 
outer  wall  of  the  palace,  but  carelessly  guarded  at  the 
distant  gate  by  half-sleeping  sentries.  Beyond  this  the 
low  broom-corn  fields  and  greener  garden  patches  lead 
away  towards  Tien  Tsin,  now  faintly  indicated  by  a 
dim  overhanging  cloud  of  smoke. 

Boardman  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  balcony  is 
busy  over  one  of  his  rapid-fires.  McCormick  is  stand- 
ing sentinel  upon  a  small  projecting  turret  in  an  angle 
of  the  balustrade.  Little  Harold  is  playing  tag  with 
his  ayah  and  the  Chinese  girl  in  the  main  room,  calling 
"  Catch  me,  Vite!  Fange  michl"  Saraki  is  toiling  up 
the  long  stone  steps  from  the  lower  story,  bearing  a 
heavily-corded  bundle,  which  may  be  merchandise,  but 
from  an  occasional  writhing,  quivering,  trembling  un- 
easiness in  its  graceful  outline  may  be  a  living  thing. 


244  f  ANGLES  FLA<3S. 

For  the  first  time  since  they  parted  in  Hong  Kong 
Osuri  Katsuma  has  private  word  with  Eira  Board- 
man. 

To  him  the  girl  again  turns  grateful  eyes  and  mur- 
murs :  "  Thank  you  once  more  for  coming  to  try  and 
save  me." 

"  I  do  not  think  you  need  have  any  immediate  appre- 
hension. These  will  make  reasonable  military  safety  " 
— Osuri  says  reassuringly  and  points  to  the  rapid-fire 
guns — "  in  case  the  Allied  column  is  sent  out  from 
Tien  Tsin  in  time.  They  know  your  danger  there." 

"  You  are  sure  ?  "  queries  Eira ;  thinking  of  the 
awful  fate  Passmere's  treachery  has  planned  for  her 
a  curious  anxiety  ripples  her  mobile  features,  her 
graceful  limbs  begin  to  tremble. 

"  I  told  all  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Ninth 
Infantry  as  I  left.  That  sergeant  is  a  volunteer  from 
the  regiment." 

"  Jim's  regiment !  "  A  ghastly  pallor  tinges  Miss 
Boardman's  contorted  face ;  she  asks,  with  quivering 
lips:  "  Then  why  is  Jim  not  here  to  save  me?  "  next 
cries :  "  You  don't  answer !  "  and  fair  fingers  grip  his 
arm.  "  Jim  must  have  stood  in  line  of  battle  with  you 
yesterday.  My  Jim  is  dead  and  you  dare  not  tell  me !  '' 
The  wild  agony  of  her  eyes  becomes  Osuri's  agony.  It 
shows  him  how  much  she  loves  the  other  man. 

"  No,  only  wounded,"  he  answers,  his  voice  low  and 
trembling.  Then  generosity  conquering  anguish,  he 
goes  on  earnestly :  "  He  will  live  for  you  and 
you  shall  live  for  him.  You  promised  your  father  at 
the  last  to  kill  yourself.  That  shall  never  be.  I  will 
save  you  for  Jim  Ingraham !  'Tis  the  oath  of  a 
daimio ! " 

"  My  heaven,  how  noble  you  are,"  whispers  the  girl, 

"  when  you "  her  per.rly  teeth  come  together  and 

shut  off  the  dangerous  words. 

But  Osuri,  checking  his  temptation  sharply,  cries 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  245 

to  Mr.  Boardman :  "  You  see  that  big  column  of  Box- 
ers retreating  from  Tien  Tsin  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  it  looks  as  if  we  had  nearer  work  before 
us,"  answers  the  American,  grimly. 

Some  of  the  Chinese  servitors  have  apparently  given 
report  to  the  Chinese  mandarin  of  what  is  going  on 
among  his  guests.  His  Excellency's  secretary  open- 
ing a  wicket  comes  into  the  compound,  and  finding  no 
one  in  the  pavilions,  steps  hurriedly  towards  the  pa- 
goda. Seeing  the  military  preparations  astonished 
fear  ripples  his  Mongolian  features.  Chin-chinning 
to  the  earth,  he  calls  out  suavely :  "  Great  American ! 
My  master,  the  grand  Li  Wong  Chieun,  mandarin  of 
the  second  class,  sends  word  of  greeting  to  you,  asking 
you  and  your  party  to  partake  of  his  hospitality  at 
breakfast  in  the  kiosk  in  the  lotus  lake." 

Even  as  the  man  speaks  a  number  of  red-blotched 
Boxers,  with  arms  and  waving  banners,  crowd  the 
walls  overlooking  the  compound. 

"  Every  woman  into  the  central  room !  Ayah,  hold 
that  boy  below  the  balustrade  for  your  life !  "  com- 
mands Osuri  hoarsely.  "  Miss  Boardman,  for  God's 
sake ! " 

But  the  young  American  girl  accustomed  to  her  own 
fair  will  says :  "  Pshaw,  I  am  not  afraid.  I'll  stand  by 
my  father  and  see  you  fight." 

As  she  speaks  the  young  officer's  hand  is  on  her  arm. 
"  I  command  here,"  he  says  sternly.  "  I  am  responsi- 
ble for  your  life.  Go  in  and  lie  down  behind  those 
sand  bags." 

"  Placed  for  my  'especial  safety !  "  gasps  the  girl. 
"  You  always  think  of  me !  " 

"  Obey  me ;  go !  " 

Noting  the  same  look  on  his  face  as  when  he  saved 
her  from  the  cobra,  Eira  Boardman  passes  in.  As  the 
Japanese  turns  hurriedly  away  she  gives  him  a  look  so 
grateful  that  the  heart  of  Osuri  Katsuma  bounds  in  his 
body. 


246  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

He  turns  to  Boardman,  who  is  questioning :  "  What 
answer  shall  I  give?  That  cuss'd  Chinese  secretary 
is  calling  out  again !  " 

"  This !  "  commands  the  Japanese  officer.  "  The 
first  blow  against  an  undisciplined  horde  is  half  the 
battle."  He  gives  some  hurried  directions. 

At  his  word,  the  three  rapid-fires,  one  managed  by 
McCormick,  the  other  by  Boardman  and  the  third  by 
himself,  give  out  a  volley  that  brings  astonishment, 
devastation  and  death  upon  the  Boxers  crowding  the 
walls. 

"  By  Plymouth  Rock !  "  cries  the  Yankee  excitedly ; 
"  my  automatics  are  lovely  slaughterers  !  " 

"  God  forgive  ye  for  making  the  murderous  divils," 
grins  the  Irish  sergeant. 

But  Katsuma  has  touched  the  spring  that  looses  the 
Inferno! 

For  every  Mongol  tumbled  from  his  pinnacle 
a  dozen  fly  up  to  take  his  place.  If  Chieun 
had  a  thousand  men  the  night  before  he  has 
five  thousand  now.  One-pound  gingal  balls  begin  to 
chip  off  the  strong  stone  masonry  of  the  white  pagoda ; 
the  rattle  of  Mauser  bullets  is  like  a  sudden  hail  storm ; 
and  now  comes  the  peculiar  rat-a-tat-tat  of  machine 
guns. 

Noting  this  Osuri  knows  the  business  will  be  des- 
perate; that  he  has  more  than  a  mere  undisciplined 
rabble  upon  his  hands,  and  remarks :  "  By  Isanagi, 
some  of  these  are  Chinese  regular  troops  driven  from 
Tien  Tsin ! " 

"  Gol  darn  it !  Don't  I  know  it !  "  answers  the  Amer- 
ican savagely.  "  Curse  their  Chinese  eyes !  Ain't  they 
shooting  at  me  with  my  own  machine  guns !  Don't  I 
know  the  whiz  of  my  own  slugs?  By  the  Eternal, 
hanged  if  I  ever  again  sell  arms  to  bloody  barbarians !  " 

"  HE  NEVER  DOES  !  " 

Even  as  he  speaks,  Joel  Luther  Boardman,  smitten 
with  one  of  his  own  bullets,  manufactured  at  Meriden, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  24 / 

Connecticut,  snarls,  as  if  astounded :  "  Gee  whiz, 
plugged  by  one  of  my  own  rapid-fires!"  then  gasps: 
"  Good  God !  Osuri,  save  my  daughter !  "  and  falls 
fainting  upon  the  marble  balustrade. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

BY  LAW  OF  WAR. 

Suddenly  the  Japanese  cries  imperatively :  "  Go 
back !  " 

Unheeding  the  impact  of  gingal-balls  and  the  rattle 
of  machine  slugs,  a  white-robed  figure  is  on  the  bal- 
cony. With  a  moan,  she  lifts  her  father's  head  upon 
her  tender  lap. 

"  For  the  love  of  the  gods !  "  Seeing  the  girl  will 
not  leave  her  father,  he  takes  Boardman  carefully  out 
of  her  clinging  arms  and  carries  him  into  the  central 
room.  At  this,  flying  after  her  patient,  Eira  gives  her- 
self shelter  again  behind  the  heavy  stone  walls. 

"  Nurse  him  here ;  don't  again  risk  yourself  upon 
that  balcony."  He  calls  to  the  Indian  ayah  and  Chi- 
nese girl :  "  Help  her !  " 

They  lay  the  arms  manufacturer  upon  some  rice 
sacks;  they  moisten  his  lips  with  water;  they  pour 
brandy  down  the  throat  of  the  fainting  man. 
,  Looking  upon  this  with  the  big  eyes  of  childhood, 
little  Harold,  who  has  followed  his  ayah,  prattles 
philosophically :  "  Mein  Gott,  mon  oncle  Boardy  bleeds 
like  a  piggy-wiggy.  Wwiderlich!  Did  his  machine 
fusil  do  him  up?  " 

But  they  are  too  busy  to  notice  his  babble,  which 
is  now  broken  in  upon  by  the  Irish  sergeant  shouting: 
"  Captain,  begot),  the  bloody  Boxers  are  charging  into 
the  compound !  " 

The  Japanese  officer  stepping  to  the  outer  balcony 
calls  Saraki,  who  has  been  handling  a  rifle,  and  in- 


348  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

structs  the  quick  Japanese  in  the  use  of  the  rapid- 
fires.  This  is  quite  easy  to  the  lad,  who  has  often  ac- 
companied his  master  to  the  Tokio  testing  grounds. 

Under  a  hail  of  bullets  from  these  deadly  weapons, 
the  Boxers  are  cleared  from  the  compound,  though  a 
few  of  the  regular  troops,  acting  as  sharpshooters,  con- 
cealed in  its  leafy  coverts  keep  up  an  annoying  and 
distracting  fire,  forcing  the  little  garrison  to  the  great- 
est circumspection.  Though  no  one  save  Boardman,  as 
yet  is  touched,  it  is  a  rifle-bolt  here  and  a  gingal-ball 
there;  and  sometime  one  will  find  its  mark. 

So  the  fight  goes  on  all  this  long  burning  day,  every 
now  and  again  the  Chinese  hordes  streaming  into  the 
compound  and  charging  the  white  pagoda,  and  each 
time  being  driven  back  with  awful  loss  by  the  deadly 
machine  fire. 

Towards  evening  they  are  reinforced  by  a  column  of 
regular  troops,  retreating  from  Tien  Tsin ;  and  now 
make  the  most  desperate  assault  of  the  day. 

By  sheer  impact  of  numbers,  though  mowed  down 
like  grain  by  the  scythe,  they  force  their  way  into  the 
lower  story  of  the  pagoda  and  begin  to  swarm  up  the 
stone  steps. 

In  another  moment  they  will  be  upon  the  balcony — it 
will  be  man  to  man — machine  guns  will  be  as  naught — 
a  thousand  spears  will  flash  once — her  three  defenders 
will  die;  and  she  will  be  at  Chieun's  mercy.  Eira 
springs  up  from  her  father's  side,  her  face  pallid  as  an 
ancient  Druid  sacrifice  upon  the  fatal  stone.  She  has 
cocked  the  little  revolver — she  is  raising  the  weapon. 

"  Not  yet !  "  commands  Osuri :  "  Not  till  you  see  me 
fall  and  they  are  about  you !  " 

He  has  wheeled  the  movable  3O-calibre  which  shoots 
six  hundred  shots  a  minute,  to  the  stairway's  head. 
"  McCormick !  "  he  shouts,  "  bring  the  second  auto- 
matic to  the  head  of  the  stairs  in  case  they  overwhelm 
me!" 

"  Aye,  aye !  "  and  the  Irish  sergeant  obeys  him. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  2  49 

Then  protected  by  the  sand  bags  upon  the  upper 
steps,  Osuri's  little  machine  gun  travels  noiselessly 
down  to  the  stone  platform. 

With  hoarse,  monkey  chatter  of  victory,  the  Mon- 
golian horde,  led  by  a  crowd  of  savage  Kansu  men, 
charge  up  the  steps,  the  single-barrel  of  the  little  gun 
wheeling  round  the  corner  of  the  platform  meets  them. 

Then  comes  the  clatter  of  the  automatic  as 
it  hurls  forth  lead  raking  the  stone  steps  till  they  drip 
with  blood  and  none  but  dead  men  are  upon  them. 

Upon  the  cool  young  warrior,  who  seems  now  part 
of  the  unerring  mechanism,  Mausers  are  fired  and  the 
loud  booming  in  the  confined  space  of  the  lower  story 
shows  that  two-men  gingal  guns  are  being  used ;  but 
protected  by  the  automatic's  steel  shield  in  his  front, 
the  sand  bags  on  the  steps  and  a  flanking  fire  the 
veteran  Irish  sergeant  brings  to  bear  from  the  first 
tier  of  the  pagoda  upon  the  mass  of  struggling  men 
huddled  in  the  lower  story,  Osuri  calmly  arranges  a 
second  belt  of  cartridges  in  the  breech-block  and  for- 
tunately is  ready  for  the  second  rush. 

For  now,  some  waving  battle-flags  and  all  bearing 
on  their  red-stained  garments  the  josses  of  the  I-Ho- 
Chaun,  cheered  by  half  a  dozen  Buddhist  bruzes, 
who  shriek  from  behind  that  they  are  invulnerable, 
twice  the  Mongols  swarm  up  the  stairway. 

Twice  the  machine  gun  tells  them  that  their  priests 
lie,  piling  them  up  in  slaughtered  heaps  from  which 
the  blood  runs  down  as  rivulets  over  rock  mounds,  till 
they  give  back. 

A  Chinese  retreat  is  generally  a  panic.  The  lower 
story  of  the  great  pagoda  becomes  silent  save  for  the 
moaning  of  the  wounded.  Even  the  gardens  only  give 
forth  an  occasional  shot. 

Evening  is  coming  on  ;  but  there  are  no  birds'  songs 
now,  the  larks  and  finshes  having  fled  affrighted  from 
the  noise  and  slaughter. 

Just  about  this  time,  either  in  the  rapid  handling  of 


250  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

the  gun,  or  through  the  overheating  of  the  breech- 
block a  portion  of  the  accurate  yet  delicate  mechanism 
of  his  3o-calibre  becomes  disarranged. 

Hurriedly  Osuri  steps  to  the  Yankee  manufacturer, 
who  is  sighing  out  his  life  in  his  daughter's  arms.  To 
him  he  whispers :  "  How  can  your  3o-calibre  be  re- 
paired ?  " 

The  dying  man  scarce  takes  heed  of  him ;  his  eyes 
are  glassy;  he  looks  wanderingly  about.  Perhaps  the 
growing  gloom  confuses  him.  He  takes  Katsuma's 
hand,  suddenly  places  his  daughter's  in  it  and  whis- 
pers :  "  Bless  you,  my  children !  " 

"  Don't  disturb  my  father !  "  sobs  Eira,  though  her 
face  is  as  red  as  the  setting  sun.  Then  she  cries  sav- 
agely: "Let  him  die  in  peace!"  Despite  himself  the 
strong  hand  .of  the  Japanese  gives  tender  clasp  to  the 
delicate  fingers  whose  touch  thrills  him. 

"To  save  you,  I'd  wake  the  dead!"  says  Katsuma 
simply.  Then  he  implores :  "  Man ;  for  your  child's 
sake !  Rouse  yourself  to  keep  her  from  Chinese  lust." 

"  Yes !  "  Boardman's  voice  is  low  but  determined ; 
the  mention  of  his  daughter's  strait  has  brought  sen- 
tiency  again  to  him. 

"  Is  there  any  means  of  repairing  the  automatic  ?  " 

"  Yes !  Tool-box  and  extra  parts  in — in  small  pack- 
ing-case in — in  my  bedroom!  I'll — I'll  do  the  job!" 

To  the  astonishment  of  them  all  the  dying  manufac- 
turer springs  up.  Taking  six  tottering  steps,  he  stands 
at  the  head  of  the  stone  stairway,  gazing  down  on  the 
heaps  of  dead  and  dying,  killed  by  his  own  mechanical 
genius.  Pride  in  his  invention  dominates  even  death. 
He  gasps :  "By  gum,  isn't  the  3O-calibre  a  hummer ! 
It  has  killed  all  them — It  has  killed  me  too !  "  He 
staggers ;  blood  comes  from  his  mouth,  and  he  falls 
headlong  down  the  steps  upon  a  pile  of  Chinese 
corpses,  as  dead  as  any  of  them. 

A  moment  later  Joel's  body  is  borne  back  to  the  first 
tier  and  placed  in  his  daughter's  arms, 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  25! 

"  He  is  dead !  The  first  of  us  are  gone !  "  shudders 
the  girl,  wringing  her  hands :  "  The  tragedy  of  the 
white  pagoda  is  beginning !  " 

Tugging  at  her  skirt,  little  Harold  is  whimpering: 
"  Ma  mamanf  Haben  die  Boxers  sie  getodt?  "  Then 
the  child  sobs  piteously :  "  Mama !  My  mama !  She 
is  dead ! " 

But  Osuri  cannot  wait  for  grief.  The  gun  must  be 
repaired.  To  do  this  he  must  first  make  his  way 
through  the  gardens  and  bring  back  the  tool-satchel 
overlooked  by  Boardman  in  the  hurry  of  their  first 
preparations.  The  coming  darkness  is  his  opportunity. 

He  calls  McCormick  to  him. 

"  I've  got  to  get  into  that  pavilion  in  the  garden. 
In  the  small  packing-case  in  that  dead  man's  bedroom 
are  the  extra  parts  for  this  gun  that  is  now  out  of  ac- 
tion," he  explains. 

"  Bedad,  I'm  afeerd  the  man  who  goes  to  get  it  has  a 
very  slim  chance  of  taking  it  to  any  place  but  the  other 
world.  Those  moving  trees  show  the  garden  is  full  of 
sneaking  Boxers.  Ye  can  see  their  spears  flashing  in 
the  gloom,"  returns  the  Irish  sergeant ;  then  the  brave 
fellows  suggests :  "  Let  me  go,  Cap." 

"  No !  You  stay  here  with  Saraki  and  guard  the 
stairway." 

"  For  the  love  of  the  Virgin,  Captain,  at  least  let  me 
go  wid  ye !  " 

"  One  can  do  this  better  than  a  dozen.  I  go  alone. 
Obey  orders,  sergeant !  " 

"Yes,  yer  honor!" 

They  have  already  replaced  the  3O-calibre  by  the  sec- 
ond automatic,  arranged  to  rake  the  stone  stairway. 
Leaning  upon  it,  the  Irish  soldier  grimly  watches  the 
Japanese,  as  Osuri  hurriedly  throwing  off  his  uniform 
glides  down  the  stairway  armed  only  with  a  revolver 
and  knife.  The  stones  padded  with  dead  bodies  give 
out  no  sound — Katsuma  like  a  naked  snake  silently 
disappears  in  the  darkness, 


25*  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

So  the  Irishman  waits  and  waits. 

Then  growing,  after  his  Celtic  nature,  impatient  of 
inaction,  he  calls :  "  Whist,  Saraki !  Kape  an  eye  from 
the  balcony.  If  the  Cap  needs  help,  just  yell,  and  Mc- 
Cormick  of  the  Ninth  will  sally  out  and  bring  in  the 
Jap,  who  is  as  brave  as  Brian  Boru." 

The  night  seems  very  silent  now.  The  only  noise  is 
the  low  sobbing  of  the  bereft  girl  in  the  main  room  and 
the  babble  of  little  Harold,  who  is  crying:  "  Ou  est 
mon  nouvel  Vater?  Ou  est  Aunt  Imogenef  Naughty 
Boxers  do  'em  up." 

Suddenly  Saraki  shouts:  "  Yojen  sanibeshi!"  and 
takes  his  place  beside  the  gun  at  the  head  of  the  stairs, 
as  a  wild,  Mongolian,  jabbering,  screaming  noise  rises 
from  the  garden. 

The  Irishman  fixes  the  bayonet  on  his  rifle,  flies 
down  the  stairway,  and  reaching  the  open,  sees  Osuri 
beset  by  three  Boxer  men ;  a  hundred  more  are  com- 
ing fifty  feet  away ;  a  thousand  more  are  issuing  from 
the  shrubbery  beyond. 

"  Quick,  Cap,  or  ye're  dead !  "  cries  the  sergeant,  as 
one  falls  to  the  revolver  of  the  Japanese.  Katsuma  is 
saved  from  his  gleaming  blade  by  the  Irishman  driv- 
ing his  bayonet  through  the  second  Mongol  spearsman. 
The  third  makes  a  lunge ;  McCormick  sees  the  blood 
spurt  from  the  left  arm  of  the  Japanese,  with  which, 
though  burdened  by  the  tool-satchel,  Osuri  has  de- 
fended his  heart.  Then  the  revolver  speaks  again  and 
the  man  goes  down. 

"  Sergeant,  you  disobeyed  orders.  Back  to  your 
post ! "  his  captain  cries  sternly,  and  the  two  hurriedly 
retreat. 

But  the  delay  has  been  disastrous ;  other  Chinese 
spearsmen  close  about  them.  Osuri  and  McCormick 
enter  the  lower  story  of  the  pagoda,  battling  with  a 
few.  As  they  reach  the  foot  of  the  stone  steps  the 
few  have  grown  into  a  mob.  Through  these  both  fight 
their  way. 


FLACJl  i$$ 

At  the  platform  the  Japanese  turns  about.  Ten  steps 
below  him  the  gallant  Irishman  is  lying  beneath  the 
feet  of  swarming  Boxers. 

"  Don't  think  of  me !  Don't  let  'em  rach  the  floor ! 
Rake  the  stairs  with  the  machine  gun,  Cap !  "  he  cries 
devotedly,  then  gasps :  "  Oh,  God,  there's  another 
knife  in  me  !  " 

But  Katsuma  is  not  of  the  kind  to  escape  from  bat- 
tle and  let  his  savior  perish.  He  throws  the  tool- 
satchel  to  a  place  of  safety  and  dashing  back  fights 
his  way  to  the  fallen  Irishman.  Gathering  McCormick 
in  his  arms,  he  again  reaches  the  head  of  the  steps. 
Upon  him  are  closing  the  Chinese  spearsmen.  To 
Saraki,  who,  absolutely  obeying  orders,  has  never  left 
his  post,  he  cries :  "  Fire !  " 

The  uninjured  automatic  gives  out  its  five  hundred 
shots  a  minute.  The  stairway  is  cleared  of  living  Box- 
ers ;  but  there  is  a  dying  man  in  Osuri's  arms.  Ser- 
geant McCormick  of  the  Ninth  U.  S.  Infantry  has 
fought  his  last  battle. 

Over  him  bends  Eira  Boardman,  wringing  her  hands 
and  sighing :  "  Another  dead  for  me !  " 

The  girl's  face  tells  Osuri,  without  action  to  stay  her 
grief  for  her  father,  she  will  probably  go  mad. 

As  soon  as  the  Chinese  retreat,  he  says  shortly : 
"  Though  that  gallant  fellow  deserves  your  tears  as 
much  as  any  man  who  ever  wore  uniform,  still  others 
demand  your  attention;  wounded  men — myself  for  in- 
stance." 

"  Oh,  Heaven,  wounded — for  me !  "  And  she  is  at 
her  patient  briskly.  In  a  moment  her  soothing  hands 
are  putting  a  first-aid  bandage  on  his  hurt  to  stop  the 
bleeding. 

"Thank  you,"  murmurs  the  Japanese,  trying  to. re- 
press the  joy  her  tender  touch  brines  to  him.  In  truth 
her  aid  has  come  none  too  soon.  The  loos  of  blood  has 
been  sufficient,  added  to  the  toil  of  this  burning  day, 
to  make  him  feel  faint,  but  cheered  by  a  cup  of  water 


254  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

from  Saraki,  he  goes  to  work  upon  the  disabled  auto- 
matic and  soon  has  it  again  ready  for  service. 

The  attack  not  being  renewed;  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity he  orders  Saraki  and  the  coolie  girl  to  carry  both 
Boardman's  and  McCormick's  remains  to  the  upper 
story. 

For  a  moment  Eira  is  a'bout  to  dissent ;  then  the  wis- 
dom of  the  Japanese  striking  her  she  says  to  herself: 
"  A  woman  has  duties  in  a  garrison  as  well  as  men." 
A  brighter  look  comes  into  her  face  and  the  mourner 
changes  to  a  worker.  Calling  Lie-lie  to  her  she  hur- 
riedly arranges  both  for  hospital  as  well  as  domestic 
service. 

So  the  first  night  comes  down  upon  them;  both 
Osuri  and  Saraki  watching  carefully,  their  garrison  is 
so  small. 

As  Katsuma  peers  out  Tien  Tsin  way  in  some  faint 
hope  of  coming  relief,  a  delicate  hand  touches  him 
lightly  on  the  shoulder.  He  knows  who  it  is — his  acute 
ears  have  already  recognized  the  light  step  that  he 
loves. 

"  You  are  exhausted,"  whispers  Eira :  then  sud- 
denly rebels :  "  Don't  send  me  back  under  cover.  It 
is  too  dark  for  them  to  see  to  shoot  me/'  Adding 
pleadingly :  "  Let  me  watch  for  you.  Come  in,  1  have 
a  meal  prepared." 

"  Keep  down !  "  The  Japanese's  voice  is  sternly 
anxious.  A  random  ball  has  chipped  off  some  marble 
near  them.  "  You  forget  I  command  here,  Miss  Board- 
man." 

"  You  forget  that  women  always  command  in  the 
hospital,  and  you  are  wounded,"  says  the  girl,  a  tinge 
of  archness  in  her  sweet  persuasion.  "  Come  in  and 
eat !  Besides,  you  must  have  rest.  Saraki  tells  me  you 
battled  all  yesterday,  all  last  night ;  and  in  the  morning 
your  desperate  journey,  and  all  this  day  this  desperate 
fight — for  me ! " 

These  entreaties  from  the  lips  that  he  adores  make 


t ANGLED  FLAGS.  2£5 

the  warrior  weak  enough  to  say :  "  I  eat,  if  you  eat 
with  me." 

"  That  I  will — with  pleasure !  "  And  Eira,  calling 
Lie-lie  to  her,  directs  she  keep  watch  upon  the  Tien 
Tsin  side;  forcing  Katsuma  to  do  the  best  thing  for 
them  all ;  that  is,  strengthen  himself  for  future  exploit. 

To  his  astonishment,  in  the  central  room  of  the  pa- 
goda— women  are  so  deft  about  these  matters — a  fire 
has  been  kindled  from  some  broken  boxes;  a  hot  cup 
of  coffee"  is  awaiting  him,  some  canned  provisions,  ta- 
ble biscuits  packed  by  an  American  cracker  company 
and  a  steaming  grilled  ham-bone. 

Still  the  meal,  lighted  by  a  flickering  lamp  shaded 
so  as  not  to  draw  the  enemy's  fire,  though  invigorat- 
ing is  not  as  pleasing  as  Osuri  hopes  for.  If  Miss 
Boardman  had  been  tender  to  her  warrior  as  his  nurse, 
after  tempting  him  to  the  meal,  she  seems  more  distant 
to  him. 

The  natural  bashfulness  of  the  girl  who  is  now 
wholly  alone,  bereft  of  kindred,  and  utterly  dependent, 
even  for  life  itself,  upon  the  devotion  of  this  man, 
who  she  knows  loves  her,  makes  her  scarce  reply  to  his 
earnest  speeches. 

Besides  duty  can't  destroy  love;  honor  cannot  an- 
nihilate passion ;  Osuri's  glances,  despite  his  resolu- 
tion, are  ardent  at  seeing  this  being  of  his  heart  so  near 
to  him. 

Noting  this,  though  she  has  supreme  confidence  in 
his  honor,  for  Eira  Boardman  is  beginning  to  look 
upon  Katsuma  as  the  maids  of  old  looked  upon  the 
knights  who  died  for  them  and  asked  no  reward,  save 
a  little  glove  or  silken  scarf,  the  girl  grows  constrained 
in  her  bearing  and  formal  in  her  address. 

But,  now  from  the  darkness  issue  two  horrors. 

The  meal  is  hurriedly  broken  in  upon.  Saraki,  who 
has  been  munching  his  rations  outside  as  he  has  kept 
guard,  steps  into  an  embrasure  and  calls :  "  Master ; 


a  foreign  voice  is  crying  to.  you  outside.    It  asks  for 
help !  " 

Stepping  quickly  out,  Osuri,  protecting  himself  from 
treacherous  shot,  looks  cautiously  over  the  balustrade. 
In  the  gloom,  twenty  feet  below  him,  is  a  prostrate 
figure. 

The  night  is  very  silent ;  a  whisper  floats  up  to  him 
in  wheedling  entreaty :  "  Is  that  you,  Katsuma,  dear 
old  boy  ?  I  must  have  word  with  you,  don't  yer  know." 

It  is  the  voice  of  Arthur  Passmere  pleading  for  his 
life. 

"  No  word   with   you,   villain.     Go   away,    I   am 
tempted  to  shoot  you  in  cold  blood." 

The  answer  that  comes  startles  the  Japanese :  "  I 
can't  go  anywhere ;  I  am  helpless.  Bound  hand  and 
foot.  I  have  been  placed  here  as  the  ambassador  of 
Li  Wong  Chieun;  he  has  terms  to  offer  you.  If  you 
will  come  out  he  will  give  you  safe  conduct  to  the 
allied  troops." 

"  I  don't  believe  you !  "  answers  the  captain  sharply ; 
then  he  orders  suspiciously :  "  Saraki,  patrol  the  other 
sides  of  the  pagoda,  so  that  we  are  not  taken  by  sur- 
prise." 

''  Then  for  the  love  of  God  give  me  whispered  word 
with  you  so  that  no  one  hears.  I  have  a  secret  to  tell 
you.  For  your  own  sake,  for  my  sake,  listen  to  me ! 
Surrender  the  girl !  It  will  be  fortune  to  you — to  me ! 
Chieun  knows  her  father  is  dead ;  give  her  up  quietly ; 
and  the  princely  American  fortune  of  the  arms  manu- 
facturer will  come  to  me,  through  my  wife  Flora,  his 
niece.  Together,  dear  old  boy,  we  will  enjoy  old 
Boardman's  millions." 

"  You  will  never  enjoy  a  fortune  through  your  wife. 
It  was  she  who  came  into  our  lines,  risking  more  than 
her  life  to  denounce  you ;  to  save  her  child." 

"  Flora !  "  gasps  the  man  below :  "  my  God,  my 
bride  who  wras  as  wax  to  me  in  her  love !  "  Then  a 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  257 

flat,  jarring,  rasping,  unnatural  laugh  rings  out  de- 
spairingly. 

Almost  in  the  same  breath  his  pleading  rises  to  Kat- 
suma,  weird  and  horrid  upon  the  still  night  air :  "  Then 
shoot  me.  For  the  love  of  mercy,  shoot  me  dead !  I — 
I  dare  not  be  taken  back  to  Li  Wong  Chieun.  Tor- 
tures more  awful  than  any  but  Oriental  minds  can  de- 
vise are  preparing  for  me,  if  I  do  not  induce  you  to 
surrender  Eira  Boardman." 

"  For  his  lust  ?  Never !  "  shudders  the  Japanese. 
"  By  Isanagi,  you  are  not  man  to  ask  it.  Wretch,  you 
have  destroyed  even  my  pity !  " 

Then,  overcome  by  the  foul,  moaning,  screaming 
adjurations  that  come  up  to  him,  Osuri  mutters:  "  I 
dare  not  descend  to  you  for  fear  of  your  treachery. 
But !  "  He  tosses  his  dagger  into  the  clutch  of  the 
frantic  wretch,  and  whispers:  "Cut  yourself  loose! 
I  give  you  the  same  chance  I  would  a  mad  dog." 

Gazing  down,  the  Japanese  can  see  the  pinioned 
hands  below  him  working  with  gleaming  poniard  on 
the  cords  that  bind  him ;  then  a  form,  inert  from  lack 
of  exertion,  stagger  towards  the  dense  thickets  of  the 
garden.  Then  from  out  of  the  gloom  he  notes  the 
gliding  figures  of  the  watching  Chinese  guards.  An- 
other second  and  he  hears  a  muttered,  sighing  shriek 
and  knows  that  Arthur  Passmere  is  again  within  the 
mercy  of  the  Chinese  monster. 

Pas-sing  from  this  hideous  interview,  Osuri,  in 
an  unused  arch,  stumbles  over  another  horror.  In  the 
darkness  his  foot  disturbs  what  seems  to  him  a  bale 
of  goods.  A  low  moan  comes  from  it.  Bending  down 
he  sees  one  whom  in  the  hurry  of  this  desperate  day, 
with  its. unending  anxieties,  and  nearly  perpetual  com- 
bat, he  had  forgotten,  and  murmurs :  "  Imogene  Pass- 
mere  !  " 

The  delicate  face  contorted  by  its  merciless  gag 
•would  produce  compunction  in  the  heart  of  any  man. 
Osuri  Katsuma  has  a  little  pity  even  for  her.  He  pulls 


258  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

out  the  cotton  stuff  rammed  remorselessly   into  the 
sensitive  mouth.     The  girl  simply  gasps :  "  Water !  " 

He  drags  her  to  the  centre  of  the  apartment  and 
pours  some  down  her  throat;  then  calling  Saraki,  he 
commands :  "  Unbind  her !  " 

"  She  is  a  dangerous  thing ;  she  is  a  bad  spirit.  Your 
orders  were  '  Secure  her ! '  She  is  secure !  " 

"  Unbind  her !  And  yet,  perhaps  she  is  less  danger- 
ous as  she  is." 

But  a  sweet  voice,  almost  echoing  him,  cries  domi- 
nately :  "  Untie  her !  "  Eira  Boardman  is  at  his  side. 
She  whispers  indignantly :  "  Have  you  no  heart  ? 
Don't  you  see  how  those  awful  cords  torment  her." 

"  I  have  heart  for  all  but  your  enemies,  Sun  God- 
dess! You  know  this  woman's  crime  against  you. 
The  ineffable  debasement  to  which  she  would  have 
doomed  you." 

"  Y-e-s,"  murmurs  the  girl,  her  blazing  face  turned 
from  him :  "  Still,  send  her  away ;  don't  torture  her ;  " 
for  a  heavy  sighing,  moaning  comes  from  between  the 
thin  lips  of  the  captive. 

Yielding  unwillingly  to  her  appeal  Osuri  steps  out-' 
side  to  patrol  the  balcony ;  as  Saraki,  with  the  same  art 
by  wHIch  he  had  made  his  delicate  prisoner  inert,  un- 
binds her,  and  the  blood  begins  to  flow  throughout  her 
veins. 

Almost  as  if  awakening  from  a  delirious  dream  Imo- 
gene,  by  the  faint  light  of  the  flickering  lamp,  sees  the 
woman  that  she  hates  bending  down  by  her ;  and  hears 
her  order  the  Chinese  girl  and  the  ayah  to  rub  her 
limbs.  And  so  gazing  into  Eira  Boardman's  face,  re- 
turning life  revivifies  her  hate.  The  traces  of  suffer- 
ing on  her  rival's  face  bring  her  no  remorse ;  the  dead 
arms  manufacturer,  who  had  been  kind  to  her,  pro- 
duces no  penitence ;  revenge  is  her  only  thought. 
Looking  upon  the  ethereal  beauty  of  the  other,  divine 
even  in  its  exquisite  pallor,  Imogene  Passmere  utters 
a  fairy-like  yet  monstrous  laugh!  Ker  occult  mind 


tANGLED   FLAGS.  259 

has  formulated  a  vengeance,  pyschological  and  dia- 
bolical. 

To  herself  she  utters  this  weird  yet  subtle  proposi- 
tion :  "  My  very  vileness  must  make  her  believe  he 
wronged  me !  " 

For  this  atrocity  Miss  Boardman  gives  her  quick 
opportunity. 

With  curiosity,  yet  modest  shame  in  her  manner, 
Eira  says  wistfully :  "  Miss  Passmere,  I  had  always 
been  kind  to  you.  Why  would  you  have  doomed  me 
to  a  loathsome  debasement  which  involved  my  death ; 
for  I  would  never  have  survived  the  outrage  you  had 
planned  for  me." 

"  Why  ?  "  The  light  of  triumph  flames  up  in  the 
cold  gray  eyes  of  Imogene.  Rising  totteringly,  she 
stands  before  her  rival,  now  to  become  her  victim,  and 
whispers:  "Don't  you  guess?  Because  of  the  man 
you  stole  from  me ;  the  man  who  loves  you." 

"  The  man  who  loves  me !    You  don't  mean " 

"  No,  I  don't  mean  Katsuma,"  sneers  Imogene  sav- 
agely :  "  though  he  loves  you  better  than  the  man  you 
love ;  because  he  is  true  to  you.  James  Burton  In- 
graham  is  the  gentleman  of  whom  I  speak ;  the  man 
to  whom  you  have  pledged  yourself  to  wed.  Had 
you  no  idea  that  another  woman  might  have  a  prior 
and  better  claim  upon  his  love." 

"  A  prior  and  a  better  claim !  "  gasps  Eira :  "  What 
do  you  mean?  " 

"  Oh,  there  was  a  steamer  on  which  he  journeyed 
with  me  from  San  Francisco.  An  ardent  man,  the  big' 
lieutenant.  Could  I  not  love  him  as  well  as  you?  " 

"  He — he  has  given  you  cause  to  hope?  "  The  vic- 
tim's lips  are  quivering. 

"  Cause  to  hope  ?  How  about  moonlight  walks  upon 
the  deck ;  arms  circling  my  waist ;  lips  pressed  to 
mine." 

"No,  no!" 


?6o  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"And  words  that  swore  I  should  be  his  and  no 
others !  " 

The  very  ecstasy  of  simulated  recollection  on  Miss 
Passmere's  face  is  convincing. 

Guarding  against  Chinese  surprise  on  the  balcony, 
Katsuma  casts  his  •  eyes  upon  the  scene.  He  cannot 
hear  their  words  but  it  seems  to  him  as  if  a  goddess  of 
truth  and  light  were  attacked  by  some  vile  yet  beauti- 
ful spirit  of  the  Inferno. 

But  Eira,  after  the  first  racking  shock,  breaks  out, 
fighting  against  the  destruction  of  her  hope  in  life: 
"  No,  no !  My  Jim ;  impossible !  How  dare  you  say 
such  things  without  proof !  " 

"  Proof !  Is  not  my  miserable  crime  against  you 
proof  that  I  had  the  promise  of  Jim  Ingraham's  love 
— and  its  realization?" 

"  In  mercy ;  stop !  " 

"  What  woman  could  be  vile  enough  to  hate  as  I 
hate,  unless  she  had  tasted  the  love  of  which  you 
robbed  me  ?  "  The  liar's  eyes  are  big  with  the  pas- 
sion of  her  imagination. 

"  You — mean — to  say — you  are  Mr.  Ingraham's 
mistress  ?  " 

"  Did  I  say  I  was  his  wife?  "  whispers  Miss  Pass- 
mere  coldly.  "  Ah,  you  believe  now !  " 

"  Yes !  No  woman  could  confess  herself  so  wanton 
unless  it  were  the  truth,"  is  sighed  out  from  the  white 
lips  of  Eira  Boardman.  Then  suddenly  she  half 
screams :  "  Oh,  God,  forgive  him !  I  have  naught  to 
live  for  now !  "  and  stricken  by  this  subtle  untruth 
crowning  this  day's  despair,  she  falls  upon  her  knees, 
writhing,  moaning,  and  hysterical. 

For  a  moment  Katsuma  fears  Imogene  has  struck 
his  goddess  down  with  some  physical  weapon  and 
curses  himself  for  ordering  her  unbound.  The  next 
instant  with  a  sigh  of  relief  he  sees  it  is  only  a  mental 
blow. 


TANGLED   FLAGS.  26 1 

But  the  triumph  in  Imogene  Passmcre's  eyes  is  her 
undoing. 

Ere  another  word  can  issue  from  her  lips  his  strong 
hand  grips  her  slight  wrist  and  he  leads  her  relent- 
lessly to  the  stone  stairway  and  down  to  the  platform. 
From  this  the  bodies  have  been  tumbled  to  the  base- 
ment floor. 

Saraki,  on  guard  with  the  automatic  gun,  salutes 
him. 

Katsuma's  voice  is  that  of  the  martial  martinet  as  he 
says  sternly :  "  Wretch,  you  have  committed  a  military 
crime  here." 

"  What  military  crime  ?  " 

"  You  have  stricken  down  one  of  my  garrison ;  the 
nurse  in  our  hospital.  As  commander  of  this  post  I 
order  you  to  go  from  it." 

"  Where  ?  "  gasps  Imogene. 

"  You  are  one  of  Chieun's  harem-women — to  your 
friends  out  there." 

"To  Chieun?"  Miss  Passmere's  eyes  are  wide  with 
'horror.  "  To  Chieun,  who  thinks  I  have  betrayed 
him  !  No,  no !  not  to  him !  Mercy !  " 

"  By  law  of  war  all  enemies  can  be  expelled  from 
belligerent  lines.  Saraki !  " 

"Master!" 

"  See  that  this  woman  is  sent  from  this  fortress ! 
Good-bye,  Miss  Passemere.  Had  you  remained  even 
quiescent,  sheltered  by  womanhood  from  your  crimes, 
you  might  have  stayed  here  and  taken  the  chances  of 
war  with  us." 

His  voice  though  inexorable  as  fate  is  low  and 
broken,  for  even  among  the  bloody  corpses  on  the 
lower  stairway  the  girl  has  fallen  on  her  knees  to  him : 
"As  it  is,  save  your  life,  if  you  can,  outside.  Saraki, 
if  she  returns  put  her  to  death." 

"  Better  kill  her  now,  Master ! "  cries  the  Japanese 
boy,  his  eyes  ablaze  with  superstition.  "  She  is  the 


262  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

woman  about  whom  the  ghost  whispered  that  our  fate 
and  hers " 

"  Silence !  I  give  her  the  chance  of  a  military  out- 
cast!'-' 

Then,  unheeding  frantic  words  and  even  clinging 
arms,  Katsuma  steps  hurriedly  up,  and  coming  to  his 
stricken  deity  tries  to  bring  calmness  to  her  tortured 
mind. 

Taking  all  military  precautions,  he  has  ordered  the 
Chinese  girl  to  patrol  the  balcony ;  therefore  Lie-lie, 
whose  bright  eyes  are  sharp  from  terror,  for  she  knows 
she  will  receive  no  more  mercy  than  the  rest,  trembl- 
ingly yet  vigilantly  keeps  ward  outside. 

The  Japanese  boy  is  standing  ready,  in  'front  of  the 
automatic,  peering  down  the  stairway.  The  Indian 
ayah,  with  little  Harold  sleeping  in  her  arms,  is  in 
some  far-away  corner  of  the  big,  white  room.  The 
night  is  very  silent,  save  once  or  twice  a  low,  weird, 
wailing  moaning  seems  to  float  from  the  compound  in 
which  the  Chinese  satrap  holds  his  sway.  It  is  a  noise 
that  makes  the  Chinese  woman  shudder,  and  the  stout- 
hearted Japanese  boy  turn  pallid. 
.  Suddenly  from  out  the  darkness  in  the  lower  story, 
appears  to  Saraki  a  trembling,  shivering,  crouching 
figure. 

"Halt!" 

"  Don't  fear ;  it  is  I !  "  whispers  the  shuddering 
voice  of  Imogene  Passmere.  "  I — I  dare  not  go ! 
Merciful  God,  Chieun  is  torturing  my  dear  brother 
now  !  "  Frantic  terror  makes  her  seem  eerie. 

"  You  know  to  what  you  come  back,  ghost  wom- 
an!" 

Superstition  is  always  cruel. 

The  look  in  the  boy's  black  eyes  makes  her  retreat 
to  the  entrance  of  the  pagoda,  but  a  weird  shriek  upon 
the  silent  air  of  night  drives  her  tottering  back  to 
Saraki's  mercy.  She  shudders ;  "  Yes ;  kill  me  quick ! J> 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  263 

"  Will  not  I !  "  mutters  the  Japanese;  "  for  thou  art 
a  bad  spirit !  Your  hands !  " 

To  him  she  silently  extends  two  little,  trembling 
wrists,  whose  white  flesh  springs  up  between  the 
strong  cords  with  which  he  pinions  them. 

She  mutters  helplessly :  "  You — you  are  going  to 
shoot  me?  '\ 

"  No ;  in  the  sacred  way !    Bad  spirits  die  hard !  " 

She  had  been  picked  up  in  the  lithe  arms  of  the  little 
Nihoncse,  who,  with  swift  feet,  is  carrying  her  light 
figure  round  the  white  steps  higher  and  higher,  to  the 
upper  stories. 

Suddenly  she  screams :  "  In  pity,  what  are  you  go- 
ing to  do  ?  " 

'  The  sacred  way !  I  am  going  to  throw  you 
down !  " 

"  Oh  mercy,  no !  " 

"  Great  traitors  are  thrown  from  higher  rocks." 

They  have  reached  the  top  balcony ;  the  low  balus- 
trade is  all  that  stands  between  the  trembling  creature 
and  empty  space.  She  has  fallen  on  her  knees ;  she  is 
trying  to  win  life  with  her  beauty;  she  is  shrieking: 
"  Spare  me,  Saraki,  and  I  will  be  your  slave !  Will  I 
not  be  a  nice  Yoshiwara  girl  for  you?  " 

The  allurement  of  her  eyes  tempts  him.  He  turns 
away  his  head  and  snarls :  "  Don't  try  to  bribe  a  sol- 
dier." 

She  is  struggling  and  fighting  with  him.  He  has 
put  her  over  the  balustrade.  She  has  contrived  to 
throw  her  bound  arms  over  an  outstanding  pinnacle. 
She  is  dangling  by  the  cords  upon  her  delicate  wrists. 
She  falters :  "  No,  no !  Kill  me  first ;  not  that  way ;  not 
from  this  awful  height !  " 

"  Then  let  me  wring  your  neck." 

With  a  little  sigh  she  extends  the  ivory  column  of 
her  swan-like  throat.  Two  sinewy  brown  hands  encir- 
cle her  smooth  white  neck,  two  desperate  wrenches,  a 

Blight  noise  of  breaking  bones,  a  little  gurgling  cryj 


264  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

then  something  is  thrown  into  the  open  air  of  night, 
and  after  a  moment  a  faint,  dull  thud  comes  floating 
upwards. 

Gazing  down,  Saraki  mutters :  "  Bad  spirits  die 
hard ;  but  this  one  is  surely  sped !  Now  there  is  hope  of 
victory  for  me  and  my  dear  master !  " 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

TANGLED   FLAGS. 

In  a  retired  nook  of  the  great  room  Osuri  finds  the 
woman  of  his  heart ;  and  Eira  Boardman  is  more  tempt- 
ing to  his  senses  than  she  had  been  before.  Though 
suffering  has  given  pallor  to  her  cheeks,  nervous  anx- 
iety makes  her  blue  eyes  more  vivid  in  their  lights 
than  even  happiness.  Half  kneeling  upon  the  marble 
floor,  the  American  girl  is  gazing  over  the  balustrade 
toward  Tien  Tsin.  The  graces  of  her  perfect  figure  are 
outlined  by  muslin  torn,  frayed,  bedraggled,  and  yet 
softly  clinging. 

Though  the  crafty  lies  of  the  woman  who  has  scarce 
left  her,  have  compelled  the  belief  that  Ingraham  is 
unworthy  of  her  love,  Eira's  is  no  heart  to  be  thrown 
from  one  man  to  another.  Therefore  an  anxious  tim- 
idity seems  to  fill  this  maiden,  helpless  now  in  the 
hands  of  this  man  whom  she  knows  loves  her. 

Though  she  trusts  him  implicitly,  beneath  Osuri's 
dark  eyes,  a  woman's  instinct  tells  her,  is  a  volcano 
that  at  an  electric  touch  of  hand,  or  even  careless  word 
of  lips  may  spring  into  amorous  eruption. 

Rising  hurriedly,  the  American  girl  astonishes  the 
Japanese.  He  had  expected  to  see  her  crushed  by  the 
unknown  revelation  of  Imogene  Passmere ;  but  meeting 
him  quite  calmly  she  says,  wisely  banishing  all  senti- 
ment :  "  You  must  rest  now ;  I  am  on  watch !  " 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  265 

"  No,  no !  Think  of  the  danger  that  may  come  to 
you  from  some  prowling  marksman !  " 

"  Pish ;  your  garrison  is  so  small,  all  must  aid !  "  she 
ejaculates.  "  Don't  you  think  I  care  enough  for  my  life 
to  work  a  little  to  save  it?  Sleep,  so  that  you  can 
fight !  "  For,  weakened  by  loss  of  blood  and  exhausted 
by  the  unceasing  effort  of  forty-eight  hours,  her  pro- 
tector has  sunk  upon  an  upturned  cracker-box. 

"  I  dare  not  sleep !  For — for  your  sake,  I  must  be 
ready !  "  he  says,  resolutely.  "  Your  bright  presence 
will  stifle  fatigue."  Then,  a  tinge  of  curiosity  en- 
tering his  voice,  he  asks:  "  With  what  mental  stone  did 
that  cruel  devil  strike  you  down  ?  " 

"  Don't  ask  me  that — in  mercy — not  that !  "  sighs 
Eira.  Then  determined  to  keep  sentiment  aloof  from 
this  man,  whose  voice,  despite  himself,  caresses  her, 
she  breaks  out :  "  Make  me  an  efficient  member  of  your 
garrison,  Captain  Katsuma." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  This !  I  know  a  good  deal  about  my — my  poor 
dead  father's  machine-guns."  Her  lips  tremble,  her 
eyes  soften  with  tears,  but  she  goes  on  stoutly :  "  A 
little  instruction  from  you  will  make  your  new  recruit 
— perhaps  in  dire  emergency — useful." 

"  Very  well,"  assents  Osuri,  gazing  in  admiration 
at  the  undaunted  face.  "  You  have  a  right  to  know 
how  to  battle  for  yourself." 

Taking  her  to  the  automatic  upon  the  balcony,  he 
explains  the  proper  uses  of  the  weapon,  not  its  mech- 
anism, with  which  she  shows  herself  quite  well  ac- 
quainted, but  the  methods  of  sighting  it,  its  elevations 
for  certain  distances,  how  she  can  sweep  one  face  of 
the  pagoda,  and  then,  by  reversing  it,  command  the 
other. 

"  Thank  you,"  she  says  sweetly,  adding  in  attempted 
sprightliness :  "  Next  time  I  kill  some  of  my  enemies 
myself." 

"  Not  until  every  hope  is  gone,"  commands  Osuri. 


266  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  To  see  you  risk  yourself  would "  he  checks  him- 
self by  jeering,  "  You  can't  be  everything  in  the  gar- 
rison— cook,  nurse,  and  fighting-woman." 

"  I  can  be  everything  for  the  man  who "  she 

pauses — "  for  the.  commander  of  the  garrison  of  which 
1  am  a  recruit." 

"  Very  well,  raw  recruit,  go  and  rest." 

"  And  permit  you,  warn  out  and  wounded,  to  watch 
over  me !  No,  no !  "  the  rebel  dissents ;  then  suddenly 
cries,  "  Merciful  heavens !  " 

For  high  overhead  are  two  bird-like  screams — then 
a  slight  body  whistling  through  the  air  like  the  wings 
of  ducks  in  rapid  flight.  From  below  arises  a  dull  thud. 

"  Saraki !  "  cries  Katsuma.  "  Our  enemies  are  011 
the  top  of  the  pagoda." 

No  answer  comes — but  in  another  moment  the  Ni- 
honese  boy  bounding  down  the  stairways  leading  from 
the  upper  balconies,  springs  in,  salutes  and  says :  "  I 
have  to  report  the  execution  of  the  military  outcast. 
The  katni  will  no  more  turn  their  faces  from  us.  The 
gods  will  not  slay  us.  Victory  is  ours.  I  threw  her 
down  hard! " 

''  Threw  her  down !  "  screams  Eira.    "  Who  ?  " 
'  The  woman  who  the  ghost  told  me  would  work 
bad  things." 

"  You — you  don't  mean  Imogene?  "  Then  her  white 
lips  form :  "  You  have  not  murdered  her  ?  " 

"  He  has  murdered  no  one,"  replies  Katsuma  tersely. 
"  When  the  wretch  struck  you  with  some  mental  weap- 
on I  expelled  her  from  the  garrison ;  that  is  all.  Ac- 
cording to  military  law,  I  ordered  Sakara,  if  she  re- 
turned, to  execute  her.  According  to  military  law,  he 
obeyed  me."  Then  he  directs :  "  Saraki,  take  p*>st  on 
the  stairs  again." 

"  Yes,  master.  No  one  can  kill  us  now."  As  if  to 
prove  this,  the  boy  walks  round  the  balcony  to  his 
post,  taking  no  protection  from  the  balustrades. 

•(  Oh,  Go4  forgive  you,  you  have  Hilled  Irnogene  fof 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  267 

speaking  the  truth !  "  shudders  Eira,  as  soon  as  her 
senses  recover  from  the  shock. 

"What  truth?" 

"  The  truth  that  it  was  necessary  that  I  should  know. 
What  I  demanded  from  her.  The  reason  of  her  hatred 
for  me;  why  she  plotted  for  me  worse  than  death." 

"Pish — have  you  not  your  dead  father's  words — so 
that  she  and  her  devilish  brother  could  obtain  your  im- 
mense fortune  through  his  wife  being  next  of  kin !  " 
mutters  the  Japanese. 

"  No  woman  could  plot  such  horror  for  merely 
money." 

"  She  gave  you  another  reason?  " 

"  Yes." 

"What  was  it?" 

"  I  decline  to  state." 

"  No  secret  in  this  garrison  from  its  military  com- 
mander. Tell  me." 

"  It  is  too  cruel  a  story.  I'll  not  torture  myself  by 
the  telling!  I — I  would  never  have  believed  it,"  she 
sighs,  "  but  no  woman  would  confess  such  wantonness 
unless  it  were  the  truth."  Then  the  tortured  lips  cry 
despairingly :  "  Can't  you  see,  it  is  breaking  my  heart ! 
Can't  you  see?  Oh,  Tim — my  Jim  !  " 

And  having  refused  her  secret,  woman-like  she  tells ; 
sighing  out  in  broken  sentences  the  cruel  lies  by 
which  Imogene  Passmere  had  made  her  believe  the 
perfidy  of  her  affianced.  Pacing  the  floor,  she  looks 
up  and  cries:  "Bereft  of  father  by  his  death,  of  lover 
by  his  untruth !  "  and  sends  a  thrill  of  divine  ecstasy 
through  the  listening  Japanese  by  sobbing:  "Is  there 
only  one  true  man  upon  this  earth  !  " 

Were  he  villain ;  aye,  even  only  diplomatist,  Osuri 
Katsuma  might  have  strangre  vantage  over  his  rival. 
He  has  only  to  keep  silent  and  she  will  believe 
her  affianced  dastard  and  perjured,  and  he  may  win 
some  guerdon  from  her  despair, 


263  TANGLED   FLAGS. 

But  the  ineffable  anguish  of  the  woman  he  worships 
forces  him  to  the  truth. 

"  Miss  Boardman,  the  tainted  thing  lied  to  you.  The 
snake  is  dead,  but  left  her  sting  behind,"  he  says  simply. 
"  Her  slander  of  Jim  Ingraham  is  but  a  proof  of  the 
venom  of  this  wretch  who  would  destroy  your  faith 
in  the  man  who  loves  you." 

"  The  man  who  loves  me !  "  sneers  the  girl  unbe- 
lievingly. "  Did  Imogene  Passmere  not  proclaim  her- 
self his — I  cannot  say  the  word.  Don't  defame  the 
wretched  dead  woman.  For  what  other  reason  could 
she  so  hate  me?  " 

"  Pish,  you  speak  like  a  mo  us  me,"  answers  the  Japa- 
nese sharply.  "  Her  mind,  diseased  by  vanity,  made  her 
intolerant  of  your  happiness.  That  is  all.  She  loved 
Jim  Ingraham.  She  was  one  of  those  women  who 
think  if  they  love,  man  must  also  love.  You  look  as 
if  you  doubt  me.  Don't  you  guess,  if  I  could  say  this 
man  you  love  is  faithless  and  unworthy  of  you ;  turn  to 
me,  who  really  loves  you,  I — I  would  do  it!  But 
your  affianced  loves  you  as  I  love  you.  I  cannot  say 
more.  Upon  the  Tien  Tsin  battle-field,  no  mere  wound, 
but  your  reported  death  at  the  Pekin  Legation  struck 
the  strong  man  down,  otherwise  he  were  here  to  fight 
for  you,  to  die  for  you,  to  tell  you  that  that  woman 
lied  when  she  said  she  had  felt  in  his  arms  the  love  that 
is  wholly  yours.  No,  no!  Don't  think  I  am  immac- 
ulate." 

For  the  girl  has  seized  his  hand,  is  kissing  it  and 
whispering  "  Noble !  " 

"  My  love  for  you  is  flesh  and  blood — a  man's  love ! 
He  has  seized  her  delicate  shoulders  in  his  entreat- 
ing hands ;  he  is  holding  her  up,  so  that  his  eyes  flame 
into  hers  until  they  droop.  "  Don't  think  I  would  not 
have  you  on  my  bosom,  if  the  man  of  my  heart  did 
not  stand  between  us ;  but  you  are  true  to  him  and 
he  is  true  to  you.  and  I  were  dastard  if  I  let  you  think 
otherwise.  Now  go  from  me ;  your  beauty  tortures  me. 
I  have  suffered  enotuzh." 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  269 

From  his  passion  the  girl  moves  tremblingly  away; 
yet  once,  gazing  wistfully  at  the  watchful  figure  on 
the  halcony,  she  says  rapturously :  "  God  bless  you  for 
having  made  my  heart  so  happy !  Oh,  how  nobly,  how 
unselfishly  you  love  me !  "  And  one  of  the  strange 
moods  of  women  coming  over  her,  she  murmurs :  "  If 
I  but  dared  to  be  more  kind  to  you,"  then  flutters: 
"  Oh,  Jim,  forgive  me !  " 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  Katsuma  hears 
the  rattle  of  the  automatic  on  the  stairway. 

Getting  there,  he  finds  it  is  but  a  half-hearted  at- 
tack. 

"  Yoroshiu,  master !  "  grins  Saraki.  "  It  doesn't 
amount  to  anything.  I  drove  them  off  with  half  a  dozen 
shots.  Nothing  can  hurt  me  now,  since  I  slew  the 
woman  who  brought  the  anger  of  the  kami  upon  us. 
See,  I  come  from  behind  the  steel  shield;  I  let  them 
take  aim  at  me  and  then  I  dodge  back,  so !  " 

BANG  ! 

And  the  Nihonese  boy  lies  dead  at  Osuri's  feet. 

A  puff  of  smoke  floating  in  from  the  entrance  of  the 
lower  story  shows  where  some  marksman,  lurking 
after  his  fellows  had  been  driven  off,  has  obtained  re- 
venge. 

"  Keep  back,  by  Izanaga!"  cries  Katsuma;  for  Eira 
Boardman  has  got  the  boy  in  her  arms  and  is  sighing 
over  him :  "  Another  dead  for  me !  " 

Pulling  them  both  behind  the  protection  of  the  balus- 
trade, Osuri  looks  upon  his  dying  boy.  Tears  come  into 
his  eyes,  but  he  brushes  them  away  and  forces  his  mind 
upon  one  problem :  How  can  he  with  diminished  garri- 
son hold  this  place  long  enough  to  save  this  being  whose 
blue  eyes,  seeing  her  defenders  falling  one  by  one,  have 
now  in  them  a  kind  of  shuddering  appeal.  To  him 
their  frantic  glances  seem  to  say:  "Shall  I  have  to 
slay  myself  to  escape  the  Chinese  monster's  arms?  " 

As  the  two  bend  over  the  dead  Nihonese,  Osuri  whis- 
pers to  Miss  Boardman :  "  I  must  get  word  to  Tien  Tsin 


27°  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

to  hurry  the  relief  column.  Take  some  of  the  paper 
from  the  packing-cases ;  write  in  your  own  hand ;  here 
is  a  pencil.  Tell  them  they  must  get  here  to-day!  A 
woman's  cry  for  aid  is  so  potent  with  all  mankind,  it 
will  have  more  weight  than  my  military  report.  Write 
also  to  your  lover." 

"  I  will  only  write  to  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Ninth  Infantry,"  she  answers.  "  I'll  not  doubt  my  boy 
again.  If  the  sun  prostration  has  passed  way,  Jim  In- 
graham  will,  if  it  kills  him,  get  here  in  time.'' 

By  the  aid  of  the  flickering  lamp-light,  Eira  writes 
her  prayer  for  succor  upon  a  piece  of  paper,  hastily 
torn  from  the  wrapping  of  a  tomato-can. 

As  the  American  is  scribbling  her  epistle,  the  Japa- 
nese is  preparing  to  send  it.  He  has  brought  Lie-lie  to 
her  and  instructed  the  bright  Chinese  girl  to  conceal 
the  letter  in  her  clothes. 

"  You  must  get  this  to  Tien  Tsin,  to  the  foreign 
troops,"  he  explains.  "  Stay  here  and  you  die  as  well 
as  we." 

"Me  sabe." 

"  Come  back  with  them  and  guide  them,  and  you 
shall  be  rich !  "  He  gives  the  amah  some  hasty  direc- 
tions. 

While  he  has  been  speaking  he  has  tied  a  rope  under 
the  arms  of  Lie-lie. 

Going  out  upon  the  balcony  of  the  pagoda  nearest  the 
outer  wall  looking  towards  Tien  Tsin,  he  lowers  his 
messenger  down,  Miss  Boardman  and  the  Indian  ayah 
giving  him  their  aid. 

Then  under  his  instructions,  aided  by  the  feet  of  the 
Chinese  girl,  the  rope  is  given  a  swinging  motion  that 
sways  it  over  the  low  battlement  but  ten  feet  from  the 
building's  base.  At  his  word  they  lower  rapidly.  A 
few  moments  after  the  rope,  released  from  its  burden, 
indicates  Lie-lie  has  safely  reached  the  ground  beyond 
the  wall. 

"  Now  I  can  do  nothing  more,  except  to  guard  you 
until  aid  arrives,  or — the  end  comes  to  us,"  he  sighs. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  k/l 

"  But  one  thing !  "  Eira's  voice  grows  low :  "  Show 
me  how  to  blow  up  the  stairway.  That  will  be  the  last 
thing  before  I  kill  myself." 

"  Yes,  I  must  explain  that  to  you,"  replies  Katsuma ; 
"  as,  when  that  is  necessary,  I  shall  not  be  here. 
Come !  "  Taking  her  to  the  steps,  he  instructs  her 
about  the  mine,  as  quietly  as  if  he  were  explaining  to  a 
brother  officer. 

Looking  down,  Eira  sees  the  head  of  a  small  fuse, 
that  is  brought  carefully  up  in  the  groove  along  the  out- 
side of  the  lower  balustrade,  and  secured  in  place 
every  foot  or  two  by  stout  cord.  Already  it  has  been 
stained  by  the  blood  of  combat,  many  dying  men  have 
fallen  over  it. 

Noting  inquiry  in  her  glance,  Osuri  remarks :  "  I 
have  examined  it;  it  is  still  intact  and  effective.  And 
now  please  let  me  watch.  I  have  but  one  sentry  since 
Saraki  has  joined  the  spirits." 

"  You  shall  not  watch,"  replies  his  charge  resolutely. 
Exhausted  by  his  forty-eight  hours'  supreme  travail, 
the  face  of  the  Japanese  is  haggard,  and  his  agile  tread 
is  at  times  almost  faltering. 

A  frantic  entreaty  comes  into  her  voice :  "  There  is 
but  one  man  to  fight  for  me  to-morrow.  For  my  sake, 
for  your  own,  let  him  be  equal  to  his  task !  " 

"  Then  that  your  samurai  be  worthy  of  you,  Sun 
Goddess !  "  And  like  a  good  campaigner  the  Japanese 
lays  himself  down  near  his  machine-gun  and  passes 

into  the  sleep  of  a  soldier. 

****** 

A  light  touch  is  upon  Osuri's  shoulder,  a  sweet  voice 
is  saying:  "  Cantnin  Katsuma.  breakfast  is  ready." 

"  Oh— ah  yes !  I  am  awake !"  Then  he  calls :  "  Here 
Saraki !  "  But  as  he  speaks  the  captain  remembers  with 
a  start  that  there  is  now  no  faithful  Nihonese  boy.  He 
utters  a  slight  sigh. 

"  You  slept  four  good  hours,  thank  God !"  says  Eira 
earnestly.  "  The  sun  is  rising.  See,  everything  about 


27*  f ANGLED  FLAGS. 

is  very  quiet!  The  Chinese  must  all  have  run  away, 
you  killed  so  many  of  them." 

"  That  may  be  possible,"  answers  the  Japanese :  "  It 
is  an  axiom  in  our  army ;  that  when  a  certain  number 
of  Chinese  soldiers  are  slain,  the  rest  always  fly.  Fight- 
ing Europeans,  even  if  forty  per  cent,  were  disabled, 
you  would  probably  have  the  remainder  >still  in  line  of 
battle.  But  the  Chinese  troops  are  different;  though 
they  may  fight  like  devils  for  a  time;  keep  pounding 
them  and  when  the  proper  number  are  disabled — the 
percentage  varies  somewhat — the  rest,  panic-stricken, 
leave  the  fight.  It  is  only  a  question  if  we  have  killed 
enough  of  Chieun's  Boxers,"  Osuri  continues,  trying 
to  make  light  of  a  situation  he  knows  is  desperate. 
"  I'll  see  if  I  can  find  some  evidence  of  their  going." 

He  starts  up  and  gazes  about ;  the  burning  sun  is 
ascending  quietly  over  the  white  pagoda  and  its  sur- 
rounding gardens.  The  silence  is  almost  suspicious. 
Naught  save  the  noise  of  the  playing  fountain  and  the 
singing  of  some  birds  which  have  returned,  come  to 
their  ears. 

"  That  these  larks  and  finches  are  about  is  a  good 
sign  for  us." 

"  Voila  les  peacocks !  "  cries  Harold,  running  to 
Eira's  side,  and  pointing  to  some  of  these  birds  grazing 
among  the  dead  bodies  scattered  through  the  garden 
walks  and  lawns.  Then  the  child  sobs :  "  Ma  maman, 
why  is  she  not  here  to  kiss  me  ?  " 

"  Mama  will  come  presently,"  says  Eira,  trying  to 
soothe  the  urchin.  "But,  breakfast,  Captain;  all  the 
rest  of  us  have  eaten." 

"  Just  a  moment !  "  The  Japanese  steps  to  the  other 
side  of  the  pagoda  and  looks  anxiously  out,  then  utters 
a  little  sigh.  There  is  no  sign  of  movement  down  the 
Tien  Tsin  road. 

"  Come  quick,  Captain  Katsuma !  "  cries  the  girl. 
To  the  ayah  she  directs,  "  Patrol  the  balcony  and  give 
him  a  chance  to  eat." 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  273 

"But  the  little  sahib?" 

"  He  can  do  without  you." 

"  No  I  can't !  and  I'll  kick  her  shins  if  she  goes ;  and 
you  look  out,  also,  or  I'll  tell  der  andere  about  your 
new  chap !  "  Harold  has  been  in  the  habit  of  noting 
the  amours  of  his  nurses  and  holding  their  infidelities 
over  their  heads. 

"  You  little  wretch,"  whispers  Eira,  almost  shudder- 
ingly  to  him,  "  when  he  is  dying  for  me !  " 

"  Dass  ist  what  Lizette's  fellow  always  told  her — 'E 
was  a  dyen'  for  'er.  C'est  drole !  But  it  don't  work 
with  me !  Say,  where's  my  mama,  anyway  ?  "  And  the 
child,  who  is  growing  fractious  from  the  absence  of  his 
mother,  sits  himself  down  discontently. 

Paying  slight  attention  to  him,  Eira  cries :  "  Hurry, 
Captain  Katsuma,  or  your  breakfast  will  get  cold,  and 
I  cooked  it  for  you  myself ! "  There  is  the  air  of  the 
housewife  in  her  sweet  tones. 

The  Indian  ayah,  her  eyes  big  with  anxiety,  is  care- 
fully patrolling  the  balconies ;  he  can  give  himself  a  lit- 
tle respite. 

"Who  could  resist  you?"  the  young  officer  says, 
half  laughingly,  and  seats  himself  before  some  steam- 
ing coffee,  grilled  him  and  canned  chicken,  of  which 
Eira  has  made  a  kind  of  fragrant  stew. 

Despite  his  protests  the  maid  plays  the  waitress,  trip- 
ping now  and  again  to  the  balcony  to  prevent  surprise, 
and  making  an  exquisite  picture  of  domesticity. 

Her  eyes  bright  with  anxiety,  grow  strangely  tender 
as  she  gazes  on  this  man  who  has  done  so  much  for  her 
and  for  whom  she  can  do  so  little. 

For  convenience  in  her  cooking  the  sleeves  of  her 
muslin  corsage  have  been  rolled  up  above  the  dimpled 
elbows;  the  white  muslin  jupe,  recklessly  torn  to 
make  quick  bandages  for  her  wounded  defenders,  is 
caught  up  in  a  short  skirt  for  her  domestic  duties,  dis- 
playing Osuri  thinks  the  most  graceful  feet  and  ankles 


274  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

on  this  earth,  despite  the  little  slippers  soiled  by  the 
dust  and  blood  of  battle;  and  stockings,  fairy-webs 
yesterday,  now  bedraggled  and  torn  into  holes  through 
which  her  white  skin  gleams  as  ivory. 

As  he  drinks  the  last  of  his  coffee  Katsuma  places  a 
big  Havana  in  his  mouth ;  his  waitress,  tripping  up  to 
him,  lights  it. 

Perhaps  it  is  the  touch  of  her  dress,  mayhap  it  is  the 
propinquity  to  her  loveliness ;  his  dark  eyes  grow 
bright. 

He  mutters  hoarsely :  "  A  charred  stick  is  easily 
kindled — You  do  too  much  for  me." 

"  Too  much  for  you,  who  this  day  are  going " 

"  To  give  my  life  for  you !  " 

"  Oh,  God,  not  that !  "' 

Some  divination  is  perhaps  in  both  their  souls,  the 
girl's  blue  orbs  grow  eerie,  a  new  light  flashes  in  their 
depths. 

"  That's  what  you  meant,  dear  one — die  for  you ! 
die  in  your  arms !  "  The  pathos  in  his  eyes  makes  her 
cry.  He  is  very  near  her. 

Then  the  child's  voice  startles  them,  jeering  in  aw- 
ful American  slang:  "  Nothin'  doing!  Serves  vous! 
Diable,  nothin'  doing! " 

It  strikes  them  remorselessly  as  the  chorus  of  a 
Greek  tragedy ;  they  draw  shudderingly  apart. 

"  Watch  here,  and  I  will  see  if  there  are  signs  of 
movement  on  the  Tien  Tsin  Road ! "  says  Osuri 
sharply. 

There  is  an  ecstasy  in  his  step.  His  eyes  glow  like 
stars. 

Crossing  the  main  room  he  steps  upon  the  balcony 
and  looks  along  the  level  valley.  After  a  few  minutes 
careful  watching  his  strong  limbs  shake  just  a  little. 
Again  he  looks ;  he  must  be  sure. 

In  a  dust  column  rising  far  away  on  the  causeway 
they  call  the  Tien  Tsin  Road,  he  catches  a  distant 
gleaming.  Is  it  a  Chinese  force,  which  in  the  pres- 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  4 75 

ent  state  of  his  defenses  means  destruction?  Is  it  a 
column  that  will  bring  life  to  the  woman  he  loves? 
With  eyes  and  ears  alert  he  looks  and  listens.  Sud- 
denly hope  flames  through  him ;  he  cries :  "  Eira,  you 
are  saved ! " 

He  is  already  hurrying  across  the  big  central  room  to 
the  stairway,  where  he  had  left  the  girl  standing  by 
the  automatic. 

She  is  not  there !  He  changes  his  course  and  runs 
out  on  the  verandah  and  sees — Oh,  horror,  what  does 
he  see? 

Little  Harold  tripping  merrily  along  a  walk  leading 
towards  a  clump  of  flowering  peonie  trees.  Almost 
frantically  pursuing  him  is  Eira  Boardman. 

She  is  calling  wildly :  "  Harold,  stop !  For  the  love 
of  heaven,  come  back  to  me !  " 

But  the  child  laughs  to  her:  "Mon  nouvel  papa 
is  calling  to  me;  I  hear  his  voice  among  the  flow- 
ers. It  sounds  queer,  but  it  says  my  mama  is  here." 
Then  he  cries  eagerly :  "  Mama,  dear  mama !  where 
are  you  ?  "  and  runs  on  again. 

Just  in  front  of  the  boy,  Osuri  from  his  high  balcony 
sees  a  curious  thing  stumbling  in  the  bushes. 

He  scarce  gives  heed  to  it;  for  gathering  about, 
quite  distant  yet,  are  Chinese  spearsman.  From  bush 
to  bush  they  crouch  very  cautiously  but  always  draw- 
ing nearer  the  maiden  of  his  heart. 

Katsuma  bounds  to  the  head  of  the  stairs,  flies  down 
over  the  corpses  and  running  across  the  garden  is 
now  scarce  fifty  feet  behind  his  love.  All  the  time 
he  is  loosening  the  two  heavy  revolvers  in  his  belt. 

He  calls:  "Eira,  stop!  Let  the  child  go!  They 
will  not  harm  him ;  it  is  you  they  want,  Eira,  my  dar- 
ling! "  Her  peril  has  loosed  the  love  upon  his  lips. 

He  is  now  in  a  little  glade.  Sweet-smelling  honey- 
suckles and  jasmine  give  odors  to  the  air.  The  girl 
has  paused  as  sharply  as  if  confronted  by  a  serpent. 


2  76  lAtfGLEi) 

Harold  is  but  twenty  feet  in  front  of  her;  a  curious 
look  of  wonder  in  the  child's  eyes. 

In  front  of  them  is  a  kind  of  nameless  thing.  It 
seems  not  wholly  man  nor  entirely  beast.  It  has  a 
funny,  squeaky  voice.  When  it  moves,  it  stumbles  as 
if  its  limbs  were  dislocated — when  it  is  speaking  it 
is  moaning  as  if  in  some  weird  torment.  By  God's 
mercy,  Eira  can  not  see  the  whole  of  it.  In  a  kind 
of  shrieking,  wheezing,  shrinking  apology,  it  mum- 
bles :  "  I  would  not  have  done  it.  I — I  am  not  devil 
enough  for  that,  but  if  I  don't  lure  you  Chieun  will 
torture  me  again — I  am  half  beast  now ;  don't  yer 
know.  Hanged,  if  I  don't  give  yer  to  him  Chieun  will 
make  me  all  ape — can't  yer  see." 

"  My  God,  Arthur  Passmere !  "  screams  the  girl,  and 
little  Harold  shrieks :  "  Papa's  made  into  a  monkey ! 
Oh,  what  will  poor  mama  say !  " 

But  the  thing  goes  mumbling  on :  "  Forgive  me ! 
Do  his  will  or  you  will  suffer  pangs  like  mine.  Look 
— what  torture !  Do  his  will,  Eira ;  he  only  wants  to 
love  yer !  Can't  you  see  ?  Can't  yer  understand  ?  " 

Gazing  about  Osuri  understands  and  Eira  also! 

Harold  has  already  run  screaming  back  from  the 
uncanny  thing. 

There  is  a  gleam  of  distant  spears,  a  noise  of  men 
circling  about  to  cut  off  their  retreat  comes  to  them; 
and  yet  the  place  is  very  silent.  The  click  of  Katsu- 
ma's  pistol-lock  can  be  distinctly  heard. 

Upon  the  unclean  beast  who  has  brought  death 
or  defilement  on  his  goddess  he  turns  the  heavy  re- 
volver. Then  for  a  moment  pauses! 

Careless  in  his  triumph,  the  joyful  face  of  the  Chi- 
nese monster  is  rising  from  some  honeysuckles  drap- 
ing a  mimosa  bush.  Li  Wong  Chieun,  with  chuckling 
grin  is  saying  in  his  best  pidgin  English :  "  Missee 
Eira ;  so  gladee,  so  gladee — keep  gladee ! "  His 
sleepy,  anaconda  eyes  gaze  in  gloating  and  unholy 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  277 

desire  upon  the  beauty  of  his  hapless  victim.  He 
utters  two  short  monkey  cries  of  uncanny  rapture. 

As  if  by  instinct  the  aim  of  Katsuma  changes ;  he 
sees  before  his  revolver  sights  the  yellow  forehead  of 
the  Chinese  demon  and  draws  a  fine  bead  between  the 
serpent  eyes.  His  pistol  is  steady  as  in  the  West  Point 
shooting  gallery:  he  holds  his  breath  and  touches  the 
light  trigger. 

As  the  report  rings  out  upon  the  air,  a  sudden  big 
round  blotch  appears  as  if  it  were  the  third  eye  of  the 
Chinese  satrap;  an  eye  from  which  spouts  both  brains 
and  blood.  With  a  shrieking,  howling  chimpanzee  cry, 
the  last  of  it  so  weird  it  must  come  from  Hades,  the 
Chinese  Commissioner-High  and  Mandarin  of  the 
Yellow  Girdle  and  Red  Button  goes  to  the  hottest  fur- 
nace in  Zamiel's  keeping. 

"  Run,  Eira !  "  cries  Osuri :  "  Your  revolver  for  your 
enemies,  now.  Ten  minutes  and  you  are  saved !  " 

The  two  are  speeding  back.  But  as  they  reach  the 
entrance  to  the  white  pagoda,  Mongolian  faces  and  red- 
queued  Boxers  are  too  close  behind  them. 

He  turns  about  and  faces  them  all — for  her. 

To  each  bark  of  his  revolver  a  Chinaman  goes  down. 
As  he  fights,  he  commands :  "  Up  the  stairs !  Turn 
the  automatic  loose  upon  them !  " 

" Donner  und  Blitzen !  I'll  shoot  it!  Diable!  I'm  a 
soldier !  "  comes  •  in  infant  tones.  Harold  is  at  the 
rapid-fire. 

Reaching  the  top,  Eira  turns  about ;  then  screams : 
"  It  will  not  work !  The  devilish  imp  has  jammed  the 
cartridges." 

'  Then  fire  the  mine !  "  he  cries  to  her. 

"  I — I  cannot.  You  are  lying  on  it !  "  There  is  de- 
spair in  her  voice.  He  has  fallen  wounded  upon  the 
platform  and  the  Boxers  are  upon  him. 

"  For  you  sake !  What  is  my  life  ?  Fire  it,  or  I " 

His  knife  has  cut  the  fuse  close  to  the  mine. 

Standing  over  him  three  coolies  drive  their  knives 


down,  but  he  gives  them  no  attention,  save  a  slight 
shudder  as  their  blades  go  home.  As  the  blood  flies 
from  his  lips  with  each  panting,  gasping  breath ;  he 
lights  the  port-fire.  At  sight  of  blazing  fuse  the  Box- 
ers give  back. 

"  You  come  to  die  with  me !  "  he  sighs.  For  the  girl 
has  sprung  to  him  and  with  unnatural  strength  has 
caught  up  his  supple  form  and  dragged  him  to  the  first 
tier  beyond  the  second  automatic. 

A  second  later  there  is  a  sharp  detonation.  The 
stairs  upheave!  Two  pursuing  coolies,  whose  hands 
are  outstretched  to  seize  her  are  thrown  down  dying, 
their  white-soled  feet  kicking  in  air. 

Then  in  her  hands  the  second  3O-calibre  pours  forth 
its  hail. 

Cut  off  by  the  destroyed  stairs,  the  girl  is  saved ;  but 
Osuri  Katsuma  lies  expiring  at  her  feet. 

"  Slain  for  me ! "  she  sobs ;  bending  down  over  the 
dying  soldier,  whose  mind,  under  heat  and  wounds,  at 
times  now  wanders. 

She  moistens  with  water  the  lips  that  speak  words, 
half  delirium,  half  love,  for  Osuri  is  talking  of  his  own 
far-away  Dai-Nippon  and  playing  as  a  boy  in  the  soft 
waters  of  his  Inland-Sea. 

Twice  he  starts  partly  up  and  mutters :  "  The  Jap- 
anese bugles ! " 

Suddenly  comes  the  shrill  cry  of  the  Indian  ayah  and 
the  yell  of  little  Harold  :  "  Soldaten!  Soldaten!  Void 
les'  Chasseurs! " 

Then  a  volley  shakes  the  building  and  the  urchin 
screams:  "Mein  Himmel!  Ain't  they  killing  the 
Chinese ! " 

As  if  by  magic  the  pagoda  is  left  to  dead  and  dying 
Boxers,  and  its  defenders. 

Looking  up  the  dying  Japanese  murmurs :  "  My 
ears  were  right — you  are  saved !  Saved  by  me,  Sun 

Goddess !  Now  that  I  am  sped "  he  shivers,  his 

voice  low  with  weakness :  "  I — I  can  tell  you !  " 

"What?"  Eira's  voice  is  as  low  as  his  owq. 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  2  70 

''  That  I  love  you,  Hime;  not  better  than  my  life, 
for  that  is  already  given,  but  better  than  my  soul." 

Stooping  down,  the  girl  whispers  sobbingly :  "  Of  a 
different  race,  I  could  not  give  my  earthly  love;  but 
your  soul,  Osuri,  I  adore." 

"  Then  kiss  me  before  I  die !  " 

"  Forgive  me,  Jim !  "  she  shudders.  Sinking  down, 
she  has  already  taken  his  pallid  face  within  her  hands, 
his  eyes  all  rapture,  his  lips  already  ashy  with  the  hue 
of  death,  entreating  hers. 

When  suddenly  she  hears :  "  Eira !  "  ring  through 
the  building.  Despite  the  musketry  outside  she 
hears  it. 

Alone  into  the  lower  story  staggers  a  man  whose 
left  arm  is  bound  up,  whose  face  is  covered  with  the 
sweat  of  a  hot  ride,  whose  Saxon  eyes  have  in  them  a 
wild  questioning.  Outside,  volleys  scorch  the  garden : 
within  there  is  nothing  upon  the  lower  floor  but  dead 
and  dying  Boxers,  and  on  the  tier  above  it,  a  woman 
screaming:  "Jim,  my  Jim!" 

He  is  calling:  "  Eira,  speak  to  me !  "  He  is  running 
towards  the  balustrade,  his  eyes  are  but  for  her;  when 
suddenly  behind  him  rises  a  half-dead  Kansu  man — 
one  of  the  kind  who  always  sting  as  they  die.  He 
lifts  up  a  short,  chopping  sword  which  flashes  razor- 
like. 

"  Jim,  look  behind  you !  Oh,  God,  too  late !  "  shrieks 
the  girl — then  gasps  astounded. 

A  dying  man  has  fallen  from  the  balustrade  upon 
the  Boxer's  back !  A  dying  man's  revolver  has  blown 
the  Kansu's  head  half  off  his  body,  and  Osuri  Katsuma 
has  cried :  "  Jim !  By  Izanagi  and  our  West  Point 
love !  I  give  her  to  you !  "  and  sank  down  dead  upon 
the  lower  story's  floor. 

As  in  a  daze  Miss  Boardman  sees  the  building 
thronged  with  detachments  of  all  nations,  each  carry- 
ing its  own  flags,  for  this  raiding  column  has  been 
made  up  hurriedly  of  any  troops  that  can  be  spared. 


280  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

Into  the  garden  with  its  flowering  trees  near  the 
splashing  fountain  is  placed  the  body  of  the  stout  sol- 
dier that  had  held  the  white  pagoda  against  the  Boxer 
hordes. 

About  the  impromptu  bier  a  little  group  of  officers 
and  a  crowd  of  men  are  gathered,  their  voices,  in  many 
tongues,  having  reverence  for  the  dead  who  did  such 
mighty  combat;  for  the  lower  story  of  the  pagoda  is  a 
slaughter-house  and  these  gardens  of  blossoming  flow- 
ers are  a  shambles. 

Pale  as  the  corpse,  Ingraham  is  kneeling  by  the  body 
of  the  man  whose  death  has  given  to  him  a  living  love. 
Recollections  of  the  parade  ground  on  the  Hudson, 
where  he  and  Osuri  had  become  as  brothers,  fill  his 
eyes  with  tears.  His  lips  tremble  as  he  presses  them 
to  the  forehead  of  his  chum  and  murmurs  the  old  West 
Point  sobriquet :  "  Boom-de-rah." 

Suddenly  he  seizes,  from  a  sergeant  of  the  Ninth, 
the  colors  of  his  regiment;  his  voice  grows  strident, 
he  cries :  "  Though  of  another  race,  we  taught  you  to 
be  a  soldier !  Thy  glory  is  ours !  "  And  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  of  the  American  Republic  float  down  over 
the  dead  body  of  the  Japanese. 

"  He  is  ours !  "  cries  a  white-capped  major  of  Japa- 
nese cavalry.  Gazing  about  at  the  great  slaughter  pen, 
he  asserts :  "  Dai-Nippon  has  many  heroes — but  here's 
another !  "  and  the  banner  of  the  Mikado  descends 
upon  the  lody  of  his  soldier. 

With  hoarse  Tartar  speech,  a  Cossack  tenderly  low- 
ers Russia's  Imperial  Eagles  on  the  hero's  corpse. 

"  Blow  me  eyes!  It's  a  devilish  fine  woman  he  died 
for !  "  says  a  sergeant  of  the  Welsh  Fusileers.  "  A 
man  like  this  belongs  to  the  whole  blooming  world !" 
and  the  Union  Jack  of  England  drops  upon  the  bier. 

" Er  war  ein  herrlicher  Mann!"  utters  an  officer 
wearing  the  Iron  Cross ;  as  the  banner  of  the  German 
Empire  mingles  with  its  fellows. 

But  an  officer  of  the  Tonkin  contingent  has  run  up 


TANGLED  FLAGS.  28 1 

and  cries :    "  France  always  salutes  the  brave !  "  and 
the  Tri-color  decks  the  bier. 

So  Italian  and  Austrian  follow  with  their  draping 
ensigns,  as  over  the  body  of  Osuri  Katsuma  droops  the 
tangled  flags  of  the  civilized  world. 

But  a  woman,  with  pathetic,  outstretched  hands,  lifts 
up  the  ensigns  of  military  glory  and  sobs :  "  He  is 
mine !  He  gave  up  his  life  for  me;  he  is  mine,  alone ! ' 
and  the  sweet  lips  of  Eira  Boardman  tender  to  the  dead 
the  salute  she  had  refused  unto  the  living. 

But  even  as  she  holds  his  cold  head  in  her  tender 
arms  it  seems  as  if  her  kisses  were  returned  to  her. 
The  dead  man's  eyes  open  and  answer  hers;  the  dead 
•man's  lips  warm  for  one  moment  unto  hers ;  then,  as  if 
having  fought  death  till  they  felt  her  love,  they  close. 

"  Mein  Himmel!"  jeers  the  little  polyglot,  who  has 
been  looking  upon  this  wonderingly :  "  Es  ist  nicht  das 
erste  Mai,  elle  I' a  embrasse.  Nothin'  doing!  Mein 
Gott,  nothin'  doing !  " 

Hearing  this,  Jim  Ingraham,  pale,  distraught  from 
the  exertions  he  has  made  to  reach  his  love  in  time, 
staggers  away  and,  clutching  the  rim  of  the  fountain 
with  his  uninjured  hand  to  support  himself,  murmurs 
hoarsely :  "  By  heaven,  has  Osuri  done  his  devoir  too 
well?  Has  the  dead  hero's  memory  come  forever  be- 
tween us ! " 

Just  here  little  Harold  gives  a  startled  cry  and  goes 
shrieking  through  the  gardens :  "  Here's  Chieun's 
monkey !  "  for  a  misshapen  thing  is  pursuing  him 
about  the  leafy  alleys,  muttering  and  moaning. 

Then  a  shot  from  the  carbine  of  a  Cossack,  who  mis- 
takes him  for  a  wounded  Boxer,  sends  Arthur  Pass- 
mere  to  his  long  account. 

Familiarity  with  slaughter  makes  man  indifferent  to 
it.  Upon  this  Ingraham  looks  moodily  uninterested; 
until  a  fair  hand  is  placed  upon  his  arm  and  a  sweet 
voice  says :  "  You  mourned  for  me  as  dead,  Jim ;  have 
you  no  greeting  for  the  living  sweetheart  ?  " 


28 2  TANGLED  FLAGS. 

"  Not  till  I  know  whether  your  heart  is  buried  be- 
neath  ?  "  He  points  to  the  draping  ensigns  on  the 

bier. 

"  No,  but  a  mighty  gratitude,"  sighs  Eira.  Then  she 
draws  herself  up  sternly  and  ejaculates :  "  How  about 
Miss  Passmere?  Last  night  you  would  have  lost  me 
forever  had  it  not  been  for  the  words  of  the  gallant 
gentleman  who  lies  beneath  those  tangled  flags." 

FINIS. 


The  Princess  of  Copper 

rHIS  story,  like  Mr.   Gunter's   "Miss 
NOBODY  OF  NOWHERE,"  which  had 
such  a  phenomenal  success,  is  a  series 
of  most  exciting  and  fascinating  pictures  of 
both  the  salons  of  New  York  society  and 
the  rough-and-tumble  mining  camps  of  the 
West.     It    is    divided    into    five    books,    as 
follows: 

BOOK  I.    The  Rocky  Mountains 
BOOK  II.    The  Waldorf-Astoria 
BOOK  III.    A  New  York  Toung  Lady 
BOOK  IV.    A  Great  City  after 
BOOK  V.    Una  and  the  Lion 

Illustrations  by  the  celebrated  artist, 
ARCHIE  GUNN 

Cloth,  $1.25  Paper,  50  Cents 


For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  prepaid  by 

The  Home  Publishing  Co, 

3  EAST  I4TH  STREET,  NEW  YORK  CITY 


Archibald  Clavering  Gunter' s 
World-read  Works 


The  ^Most  Successful  y^ove/s  of  the 

Tangled  Flags by  A.  C.  Gunter 

The  Princess  of  Copper by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Adrienne  de  Portalis by  A.  C.  Gunter 

The  Fighting  Troubadour by  A.  C.  Gunter 

M.  S.  Bradford  Special by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Jack  Curzon by  A.  C.  Gunter 

A  Lost  American • by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Mr.  Barnes  of  New  York by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Mr.  Potter  of  Texas by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Miss  Nobody  of  Nowhere by  A.  C.  Gunter 

That  Frenchman! by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Miss  Dividends • by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Baron  Montez  of  Panama  and  Paris by  A.  C.  Gunter 

A  Princess  of  Paris by  A.  C.  Gunter 

The  King's  Stockbroker • by  A.  C.  Gunter 

The  First  of  the  English by  A.  C.  Gunter 

The  Ladies'  Juggernaut by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Her  Senator by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Don  Balasco  of  Key  West • by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Bob  Covington by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Susan  Turnbull by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Ballyho  Bey by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Billy  Hamilton by  A.  C.  Gunter 

Cloth,  $  1.25  Paper,  50  Cents 


Sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the  publishers. 

Special  terms  on  Library  Editions  forwarded 
on  application. 

The  Home  Publishing  Co. 

3  EAST  I4TH  STREET,  NEW  YORK 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 
II 


A     000  034  086     9 


